As some of you know my wife is still pushing for air conditioning and I am pushing for more trees in our yard. We did go out and purchase a couple of fans today in hopes that will "cool off" the pressure of installing air conditioning. The real concern, though, should be how plants are reacting to the summer heat and how can we help them through this stressful time.

Every plant has an optimum temperature that they enjoy growing in. If we look at the cool season grasses such as Kentucky blue grass and creeping Fescue that grow in the upper Midwest, their optimum temperature for shoot growth is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that most of their growth will occur at night when daytime temps reach the 80s and 90s.

If you look at the optimum temperature for root growth, you will find that if your soils are above 65 degrees Fahrenheit you won't see much growth. Soils that are sandy will dry out quickly and warm up faster than loamy or clay soils. One way to keep your sandy soil cool and your grass growing is frequent watering. Another way is letting the grass grow a little taller. Taller grass will increase the shade on the soil, keep it cooler and also create a deeper root system. The other benefit is you don't have to be out mowing your yard as often. There is a law in our city that requires you to keep the grass below a certain height but there is no law that says you have to mow every week. If the grass isn't growing, don't mow.

When I first graduated from college, they taught us the best height to mow at was two inches. A few years later the height was raised to three inches. Now many people are mowing their lawns at four inches. That increase is creating healthier lawns that use less water.

I was told once that taller grass also causes more mosquitoes, which it doesn't.

Most of the flowers, trees and shrubs that we grow in our temperate climate perform their best at temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees. Plants will tolerate higher temperatures. In fact they seem to tolerate it better than humans do. Thus the debate about air conditioning with my wife will continue until she wins. There are a few things to help our plants survive this stressful time.

The people of Mexico have it right. They take a siesta in the heat of the day. Let your plants also rest during this hot time of the year. This means avoid fertilizing. Fertilizer will cause the plants to put on growth. This new growth is succulent and needs more water. Most trees and shrubs put on their growth in the spring and don't need to be fertilized during the summer months.

One effect of pruning is the promotion of new growth on plants. Limit the amount of pruning you do to your plants in the summer. Wait until late summer or early spring for your heavier pruning. A little snip here and there is fun to do this time of year, but don't overdo it.

The way we water can also be detrimental to our plants. I see people watering every day and not allowing the soil to dry out. Plant's roots need oxygen and overwatering will reduce the oxygen in the soil. This causes the plants to become weak, stunted and chlorotic. Make sure your garden needs water before turning on the sprinklers all day.

One way to keep the soil moist and cool is the use of mulch. Covering the soil keeps the sun from beating down on your flower beds and keeps the moisture from evaporating. The use of organic matter also creates a soil with better structure.

I also recommend rain dances on a regular basis. If your rain dance is successful and it rains, please don't complain. We could use some rain right now so get out your dancing shoes. In the same way you need a shower during this hot weather so does your garden but only if it needs it. Check the soil to see if it is dry.

Chuck Martin is a horticulturist at Dow Gardens.