If you cannot cover your plants, consult your Extension agent or garden store for recommended insecticidal controls. Mulching This year should be the year of the mulch. With dry and hot weather forcasts predicted, why not save yourselves and your plants some time by using mulch. Mulch will keep the moisture in and the weeds out. It also keeps the soil surface cooler.
Mulch materials can be old newspapers, lawn clippings, leaves, compost, and bark chips.
Make sure the mulch is thick enough to do the job, but not too thick that water cannot penetrate through it. If not, you might not need to apply. Or if you have only small areas your lawn that are problematic like next to sidewalks and drives, consider applying only to those areas. Watering Annuals Annuals are shallow rooted so don't allow the soil to dry out too deeply. Begin watering in the morning and water through the heat of the day.