Hello, and welcome back to my weekly gardening series! For the first time in a long time, the relentless humidity will ease up this week, making for decent weather to tend to your outdoor gardens.
Tonight, a weak cold front will pass through the area, bringing with it cooler temperatures and drier air. Starting tomorrow, if you live in Mississippi and Louisiana, you’ll be able to enjoy the lower humidity and do outdoor activities without sweating through your shirt. Dew points in the upper 50s and 60s are expected most days this week. It may still feel somewhat humid, but compared to what we’ve gone through, it’ll feel pretty nice!
Sadly, the fall-like humidity will not be accompanied by fall-like temperatures. Afternoon high temperatures in the mid 90s are still expected each day this week, so don’t let up on the watering, and be mindful of your plants that are less heat resistant. It might also be a good idea to do strenuous gardening work in the early morning or late in the evening to avoid the heat.
If you will be working outside during the day, be sure to remain hydrated, wear sensible clothing, and wear sun protection on your face and body.
Rainfall Update
Since the end of June, things have been pretty dry. Out of the subregions that make up our forecast area, Hattiesburg and the surrounding areas are faring the worst in the rainfall department, running 5″ below normal since the end of June. In Mobile, conditions are similar. In Alexandria and the Louisiana area, things are a bit better, but rainfall has still been more than 2″ below normal.
Keep all that in mind when deciding how much water you’re going to give your plants this week.
Cloud cover also looks to be relatively sparse this week, especially the further west you go. During the afternoons, when peak solar radiation occurs, cloud cover looks to be between 10 and 60% most days, with the highest cover being located further east over eastern Alabama, Georgia, and the Florida panhandle.
Also keep this in mine when deciding how much water to give your outdoor gardens and plants, as sunny days will obviously dry your plants out more than cloudy ones.
The drier than normal pattern we’ve been stuck in for the past month or so will continue this week. Forecasted rainfall totals in Louisiana and Mississippi look paltry, with half an inch of rain at most from now until this Friday. As you go further east the situation improves a little bit, but no more than an inch and a half of rain is forecasted for this week.
As such, watering is very likely to be necessary this week, no matter if you have potted plants, a raised garden, or an in-ground garden. Between the heat, low cloud cover, light precipitation, and the rainfall deficit we’ve gotten into over the past month, your plants will be thirstier than ever.
