SIOUX CITY, IA -
The temperatures are back in the 90's again, Siouxland just can't get a break from the heat.
Corn & soybeans aren't the only plants burning up out there, chances are your backyard garden isn't doing so well, either.
A lot of people have probably given up on their gardens, but even if you don't have a green thumb it shouldn't be too hard to keep your garden growing.
"Bugs in general are absolutely rotten right now," said Nick Crowder, Store Manager of the Riverside Earl May store in Sioux City.
Those insects equal up to just one more way the heat's hurting your garden.
No rain means everything from Japanese beetles to fleas and ticks are going nuts on your greens.
To help out, Crowder says an insecticide isn't a bad idea.
"Whether it be before you go to work or when you get home from work, it'll be fine to hit them either way," said Crowder.
Besides the bugs, if your plants don't get eaten alive, they might just die of thirst.
"You're really looking at making sure you give them those extra drinks of water when they're starting to wilt," said Crowder.
Since the heat has folks watering more, Crowder says it's hard to keep things like hoses and sprinklers on the shelves.
"It's been hard to keep them in, it's been hard for the manufacturers to keep them out to Earl May," said Crowder.
When it comes to watering, too much can cause more problems. Check and see if the soil's moist, if it is, hold off for a while.
It's also important to know when to water, too.
"You really hate to do any watering in the evening," said Crowder. "Because you don't want it to stay wet and moist overnight, that can cause a potential for fungal issues and rotting issues."
So stick to irrigating in the early morning, because with a little insecticide and the right amount of moisture your garden can beat the heat.
Crowder says it might be tempting, but you should really lay off on a lot of the fertilizer right now.
The fertilizer might encourage new growth, something you don't want to see right now, because the heat will just burn it up.
