While most people know the basics, two local experts have shared helpful tips to fend off plant stress and sunburn during the summer months.
Echuca Moama Plant Farm owner Craig Turner said the most important thing was to be proactive.
“The best thing to do for a plant is not to let it get to a stress point,” he said.
Applying water in the mornings or evenings before stress occurs is ideal, as watering once plants are already wilted and stressed is less effective.
Plants take very little water through their foliage, so giving plants a long deep water directly at the root base will help keep plants moist.
While many believe watering plants at noon will cause sunburn, Mr Turner encourages people to water when they can.
“I've never seen a plant really burn from being watered in the middle of the day, but I've certainly seen hundreds of thousands of plants or trees die because they don't get watered,” he said.
“Everyone's lives are a little bit busy ... (which) means plants don't get watered when they're meant to. So just grab a hose and water when you can.”
Where possible, plants should be moved into the shade or under a shade cloth to protect them from the sun.
Applying mulch around the base of plants will also help lock moisture into the root system and prevent the soil from drying out.
For those wanting to go the extra mile, applying seaweed products in the morning before a hot day can help strengthen plants.
Another professional tip is to avoid pruning during summer, as dead leaves can act as shade for growth underneath.
Pruning also encourages new growth, making it better suited to autumn, when there is less risk of foliage burning.
For those managing fruit trees or vegetable gardens, advice may differ depending on what is being grown.
Local avocado farmer Andrew Crossman has been keeping a close eye on his orchard during high-heat days.
“The last five summers have been quite mild, so the (high heat) does knock the trees around a little bit,” he said.
“You get a bit of sunburn on fruit and exposed fruit, and that's deemed unsellable, unfortunately.”
All trees are different, so knowing the watering needs of your trees is vital.
Avocado trees require shorter, more regular waterings to help maintain humidity in the orchard during dry heat, while other trees may benefit more from deep watering at the roots in the mornings or evenings.
Learning a tree’s water requirements can also help prevent root disease caused by overwatering, a far more difficult problem to fix.
Regardless of what is being grown, Mr Crossman said ensuring infrastructure was strong and plants were in good health was paramount.
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