While summer is always the hottest season of the year, it seems like average temperatures keep getting hotter and hotter. Cities all around the U.S. keep breaking records for the hottest summers ever recorded, and these high temperatures can quickly harm your plants.

Keeping plants hydrated in the Summer doesn’t have to be a tedious process, but it does take more than just overloading them with water. There are simple changes you can make to ensure your garden, grass, potted plants and more survive the season. Here are some of our top tips:

Our outdoor potted plants are especially vulnerable to the summer heat. Since watering them multiple times a day might not be possible, there are a few things you can do to help them retain more water.

1. Move plants to shade or cover them

While some plants require direct sunlight, the sun can make plants too hot and evaporate moisture quickly. To fix this, try moving your potted plants into the shade for a few hours a day or a few days at a time. When it’s extremely hot outside, even plants that love sunshine can benefit from a little relaxation in the shade. If you’ve got a garden or large plot in the ground, try putting a tent over them to provide some relief from the scorching sun.

2. Set up drip irrigation

Drip irrigation systems are a great way to make sure each and every plant is getting the water that it needs. Drip irrigation systems can run directly to each of your potted plants or specific sections of your garden. They’re also inexpensive and easy to install. You’ll have peace of mind that water is reaching every plant in your garden.

3. Put watering on a timer

This will also ensure you’re watering at the right time. You don’t want to water during the hottest part of the day because you’ll risk most of the water evaporating before it can reach the roots. Because of high temperatures, watering your garden early in the morning is ideal to ensure the most water retention. If this isn’t possible for you, consider installing a timer so your sprinklers or drip irrigation systems come on automatically.

4. Use mulch

Putting mulch around your plants is an easy way to ensure that the roots will stay dark, cool and wet. It also keeps weeds away, which can rob your plants of precious moisture in the summer months. Mulch is inexpensive and can be found at any home improvement store.

5. Let your plants be

It’s ok to be worried about your plants when a heat wave strikes, but don’t fuss over them too much. Plants are under a lot of stress already when it’s hot outside, and doing too much with them can sometimes just make things worse. Don’t transplant anything even if you plan on moving it to an area with more shade. Your plants are more resilient than you think, so do your best to give them enough water and let them be.

To give your plants the best chance at surviving the summer, use RainSoil RAW to retain the most moisture. Our different types of soil can help plants thrive in the toughest conditions, whether it’s too hot, cold, wet or dry. Browse our selection of products here to see which option is best for your home or commercial garden.