July 23, 2025, 3:57 am | Read time: 5 minutes
During the dog days, temperatures often climb to peak levels–heat and dryness affect not only us but also garden and balcony plants significantly. It’s all the more important for hobby gardeners to take extra care of their green charges during this hot phase. But when exactly do the dog days begin, and what is crucial for plant care now? myHOMEBOOK provides helpful tips and explains how plants can be optimally cared for and protected to withstand the summer heat well.
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When Are the Dog Days?
Although the sun reaches its highest point on the Northern Hemisphere on June 20 or 21, it usually doesn’t get really hot until about a month later–during the so-called dog days, which last from July 23 to August 23. The reasons for this lie far above our heads: “Our atmosphere is sluggish. It takes about three to four weeks to react to the sun’s peak and the resulting heat,” explains Jörg Riemann, meteorologist and head of the Berlin Weather Factory, in an interview with myHOMEBOOK.
During the dog days, there is usually a pronounced temperature increase. On average, temperatures reach 77 degrees Fahrenheit, with peaks of more than 86 degrees not uncommon. Depending on air pressure, dryness can also occur. If rain falls, it often comes in the form of steady rain. “Typically, we also experience thunderstorms during the dog days. Before that, the air is warm and humid–like in a laundry room,” says Riemann.
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How Can You Protect Your Plants from Heat and Dryness?
Especially in hot weather, garden plants need a bit more attention to avoid drying out. Here’s what you should keep in mind to help your charges get through the midsummer dog days.
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Watering Properly
It’s no secret that plants need more water during intense heat phases than usual. Therefore, you should ensure they are watered regularly and sufficiently. The timing is crucial. The most important thing is to avoid watering when the sun is directly on the plants. The hours around midday should be avoided.
If possible, water in the morning. Then the ground is still cool, and the water doesn’t evaporate as quickly. Also, make sure that flowers and leaves don’t get wet. Water droplets act like a magnifying lens and can cause burns on the plant surface by focusing incoming sunlight.
Provide Shade
Every plant reacts differently to heat and sunlight. Be cautious with sensitive potted plants: It’s best to place them in the shade. Sun sails and umbrellas can also help. A good alternative is so-called shading nets, which can easily cover plants. If you want to use fabric cloths, ensure sufficient air circulation.
Related: 3 ways to adapt the garden to dryness
Cool with Evaporation
To support cooling, you can use the principle of evaporation. For this, it’s enough to wet the garden path, terrace, or balcony with water during the midday heat. The evaporated liquid slightly cools the surroundings.
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What the Dog Days Will Be Like in 2025
The dog days are considered the hottest days of the year. Given the temperatures already reached this year, some garden owners may be worried. But Riemann cautiously reassures. “There will be hot days, but the extremes are missing. Of course, we have some days at 86 or even 95 degrees, but shortly after, the weather models currently indicate lower temperatures again. I don’t yet see this ‘heat dome’ that many fear,” the expert explains. The changeable weather that has accompanied us all year will not abandon us during the dog days either.
What Do the Dog Days Have to Do with Dogs?
The dog days have little to do with four-legged friends. They owe their name to the “Sirius” dog star in the “Great Dog” constellation, known since antiquity. The bright star in the morning sky was interpreted as the first harbinger of summer heat. Due to the switch to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the dog star is now visible only from August 30 at the earliest.
However, the old tradition is still followed, and the hottest period of the year is still called the dog days. This means the dog days are not a meteorological but an astronomical event. Scientists believe that the dog days, or the appearance of the dog star, will occur in winter in about 13,000 years.
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The heat is therefore not related to the constellation of the Great Dog. Rather, it’s a coincidence. In the summer months, it’s hot because during this phase, the Northern Hemisphere, including Germany, is particularly close to the sun. The sun is actually highest here in June. During this time, the land and water masses of the Earth warm up. In the following months–July and August–the heat is then released, causing temperatures to rise.