Can I revive my dying bushes if so how?

Question

I live in Las Vegas where it gets really hot here in the summer, and all my green bushes are now brown, dry, twigs. I have clipped off most of the dead leaves and the brown parts of the stems and have been watering them daily but they are not looking to good. Is it too late or do they still have hope?

Answer 1

If the branches are still green inside and you have at least some leaves yet...just keep watering and it will help out and they will probably be fine next season.

However, if the branches are all brown inside or there aren't any leaves left, you are probably out of luck.  The less green leaves on the plant, the harder it is to perform photosynthesis, hence getting new growth.  

Answer 2

A horticultural polish, like Cloud Cover, will reduce the transpiration of water from your bushes' leaves.  This may help save them.

Getting some shade screen and propping it over them might help. (Maybe with ladders and stepstools for now, until you build an arbor).

There are shrubs and bushes which are more likely to survive desert heat than others.  Call your local university's agricultural extension.  They may have solutions for keeping plants alive, and good suggestions for what to replace them with if they die.

Answer 3

After trimming off the dead stems, be sure you SOAK the plants, leave the hose on a quick drip for 30-60 minutes to make sure they are getting enough water.  We had 108 for a week solid and I'm still pruning and soaking.  Things are slowly coming back.  The shade is a good idea, Most DIY stores have shade cloth at a reasonable price if you have large area to cover (as opposed to umbrellas).

Answer 4

well i live where its hot too, and i had the same problem, buy some umbrellas and keep them shaded as much as you can, that is what i have done to mine, seems to be working, and you may have to water twice a day, like i am haing to do to save mine, today here it was 103 and i got my umbrellas out there , they dont look too pretty but i want to save my bushes, good luck,  make sure you cut all the dead stuff off, and bend a twig to make sure they are still green before you waste your time, if they are already dead  i would dig them up and replant in the fall.