Nurseries Suffer In 100-Degree Heat

The sound of the sprinklers is about all you hear Thursday at Blooms Nursery and Landscaping in McMinnville, Tenn.

The oppressive heat has cut customer traffic in half and employees are working shorter shifts to beat the heat.

Blooms’ owner Calvin Owen Jr. said, “Overall this season has been hard on plants. Spring freeze to summer drought, everything is hurting.”

Hydrangeas at Blooms Nursery and Landscaping are a perfect example of how the plants are being affected by the heat.

The leaves are scorched and you can see the red spots also caused by the heat.

Some plants, like azaleas, prove they can cope with the heat as long they're given plenty of water.

“Normally our water bill is $300 and this month it will be $450, $400,” said Owen.

He said you can plant right now, as long as you do take proper care of the plants, but your options when shopping may be limited

There will be more of a selection in the fall, but nurseries are hoping the spring will be the big bounce back season.

In McMinnville, the nursery capital of the world, one nursery told News 2 they are not able to ship the plants because they burn in transition.