Expert provides tips on how to prevent sunburn for plants

The May long weekend is one of the first kickoffs of summer, which means many people will be in their gardens.

Rick Van Duyvendyk, the owner of Dutch Growers, said this weekend is the perfect time to get plants and seeds.

He told the Greg Morgan Morning Show that many plants are burning right now. That’s because of the high temperatures during the day and the lows under 10 C at night.

“Now we put our lush little plants out there in the sun and we wonder why they start turning white and they get a sunburn because it’s too extreme; it’s too hot,” he said.

Van Duyvendyk is recommending people get their plants this weekend so they can get acclimatized.

“Put them under a tree or in a shady spot of the yard during the day and if it’s below 10 degrees, bring them in at night. Do that for about two or three days and then plant them,” he said.

Van Duyvendyk added that while these plants get ready for the warm weather, there are a lot of other things people can do in their gardens.

“You can get your pots ready,” he said. “You take eight to 12 inches off your pots and put some new soil in them so you can put your flowers out. You can get your peas in the ground (and) potatoes in the ground (and) you can put your carrots in.”

Van Duyvendyk pointed out it’s the herbs that people should be worried about right now.

He said normally, there’s a great atmosphere at Dutch Growers during the May long weekend.

“People come in and have smiles on their faces and that’s the funnest part about it is (that) gardening is just one of those things. It’s therapeutic. People feel good about (it),” Van Duyvendyk said.