As we endure the dog days of summer, until mid-August the days are hot and not particularly kind to plants or people.

Be mindful of the special care needed by potted plants.

Container plants need daily watering; smaller pots more often, and hosing the sides of clay pots is also beneficial.

Newly-planted trees, shrubs and perennials can take a long time to adjust, and they need extra watering or their leaves will drop.

Water evenly and well to encourage deep root growth. Do this throughout the growing season to ensure that they will winter-over well.

To keep your plant healthy and reach their potential:

• Never feed your plants when the soil is dry and the leaves are wilted.

• Never feed a plant that is infested with insects or disease.

• Never feed a plant when it is dormant.

• Continue to deadhead.

• If your perennials start looking brown or wilted, cut them back. They will return strong and healthy unless they are diseased or infested with insects.

Gardening and lawn care can lead to hours in the sun during these dog days, and it does come with some risks.

Being aware of the sun’s effects on our bodies and the knowledge of how to minimize the risks can keep us safe in the sun.

According to statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation, in the United States more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than all other cancers combined.

One of the best ways to limit your sun exposure is by staying in the shade during the hours when the sun’s rays are the strongest, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sometimes that is not possible, and the first form of protection we think of is sunscreen.

When using sunscreen with an SPF of 30, it will take thirty times longer for your skin to redden than with no sunscreen.

Be sure to apply lip balm with sunscreen as well.

Try to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out into the sun to give it time to work.

If you are also using insect repellent, apply sunscreen first.

It is best not to use a combination product containing sunscreen and insect repellent as you may need to reapply sunscreen more often than is safe to reapply insect repellent.

Think beyond sunscreen and cover up.

Start at the top with a hat and work down.

Try to choose a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face, head, ears and neck.

Clothing can be a great way to protect your skin.

Of course, the more skin your clothing covers, the better your protection, so long-sleeved shirts and pants are best.

Not all fabrics and colors provide equal protection.

Dark color fabrics offer more protection than lighter shades.

Densely-woven cloth, like denim, provides more protection than thinly-woven cloth.

Tight-fitting clothes can stretch and reduce the level of protection, so choose garments that are loose-fitting.

One way to evaluate the fabric’s safety is to hold it up to the light. If you can see through it, UV radiation can easily pass through the fabric to your skin.

Keeping ourselves safe from the effects of the sun is easy and just requires thinking ahead.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613