BEATRICE, Neb. - Summer provides a unique set of challenges for plant shops, landscaping companies, and outdoor floral shops.

“When it’s over 100 degrees and you’re talking over 40 MPH winds it’s just going to dry everything out”

Alex Eckhoff owns Envision Landscapes in Beatrice and closed operations last weekend as warm temperatures and high winds impacted southeast Nebraska. He did this, out of caution for the many potted plants and shrubs that fill the outdoor garden center. But closing wasn’t the only part of the protection plan.

“So we bring everything down, pack it together, that gets it out of the wind and then we water it really well,” Eckhoff said. “If we have the plants up on the tables, the wind will just blow them over, possibly break them.”

And of course, watering is of utmost importance.

“Stuff just dries out so fast,” Eckhoff said. “We water early in the morning, then again in the afternoon. With those shade canopies, that keeps them out of the heat a bit as well which keeps them from getting quickly dried out, but that’s also why we bring stuff down.”

But stores like Envision aren’t the only ones impacted by the dog days of summer. Anyone with plants or flowers at their home is at risk as well. Eckhoff says Japanese Beetle’s will soon impact roses and recommends rose guard sprays.

Also keep in mind how you water.

“A lot of your shrubs, your roses, your hydrangeas, they don’t like to be watered over the top,” Eckhoff said. “Water them down on the base… We reccoemdn using our Dram nozzles which provide a gentle shower.”