Looks like a chance of a good thunderstorm today! Hopefully it doesnt miss you but I have noticed that most of them have lately. We have had an occasional drenching T'storm which is the only thing keeping us somewhat moist, but we are in serious need for a little rain. Ive been using a lot of water this year. As far as some tips you can get some plastic containers to put under the pots so the water stays in. Watering in the morning might conserve water since its not as hot so it isnt evaporating. And knowing which plants can go a day without water and which ones will look horrible if they dont get water every day will help you use the water only when needed.

Good luck, hope you get a nice rain today!
-Alex

I mulch all my bigger containerized plants (palms, oleanders, citrus, etc.), in addition to in-the-ground plantings. You don't want a too deep a mulch and try to keep it away from the trunk otherwise rotting may be a problem.--Time to start a rain dance me thinks (the extended forecast is for very warm/hot and dry conditions to continue).

You thinks right! The storms are just skimming our area to the north AGAIN! I am hoping some rain makes it thru or even insects start to vanish. One shower just enough to wet the sidewalk just passed thru and this is the critical hour.

I will use both those tips - good ideas guys! Thanks.

We did get the drenching rains here--enough to create white water rivers in the streets. I'm glad it rained. I really only worry about the trees and the shrubs--especially recently planted ones (within two years). I don't mind letting the grass go dormant.--I have an expansive lawn area so it may be brown--but it means a heck of a lot less mowing and lower water bills.

Greg,do you have central air? If you do it has to drain somewhere.Even if you have window units they have got to drain off the condensation.I put out a five gallon bucket and my central air unit drains about 15 gallons a day.Mine has a little drain line comming out the back of my basement,I put a 2" x 8' foot long pvc pipe over it so it will drain downhill into the five gallon bucket.It's the same thing as distilled water.It's how I keep my three dogs cold water in summer.I let it set overnight before I water my plants with it,so im not pouring cold water on my plants.I keep 3 five gallon buckets so I can switch them out.Hope that helps.

Greg

Do you save your water from the downspouts?
You can buy 35g rubber trash cans at most Wallyworlds,etc for about $10,I raise the first can and cut a V in it so it fills another one.
Of course you do need rain for this but you can fill them and let set for a day to mature the water from your hose.

20' of gutter and .50" of rain will fill a few 35 gallon buckets,all you need is rain,not a problem here as we have all yours!

Rain? What is that? I havent seen rain in these here parts for a looooong time :(

Jim,quit hogging all the rain,share some man :) I also collect rain from my downspouts with 55 gallon drums.The only trouble is we havent seen rain in 7 days.Mabey that tropical storm that's going to hit somewhere in the gulf will give us some rain,mabey!! I just hope it does'nt cause any damage to people living anywhere down there.

Collecting the ac water is a good idea but my ac water drips off the roof because the central ac is in the attic. I use to have central heat in my old house and it dried out everything. I have hot water heat that doesn't effect humidity so thats why i can overwinter plants well

I rarely water my back yard and the trees killed all my grass by taking all the water.

. I found out 4 of my dioon spinulosom are flushing. A little bit of 30-0-0 and superthrive did the trick.

I also got a new tree its a staghorn summac tiger eyes.

I'm leaving on vacation for 3 weeks to my summer house in PA. Its less than a mile from the peak of the poconos. Its a zone 5a

last winter i planted some opuntia in pots and i'm going to check on it

Good luck Dennis

I will pot that Imbricata if you want it so it's rooted when you return.

Hello Everyone,

It's been blazing hot down here as well...I started the rain dance but it didn't do much!!! LOL So, I decided to go to Lowes and buy 3 more 5 gallon buckets to keep under the eaves. I have 2 already but I find that I need more with all of this heat. My problem is that my hubby took down all of the gutters several years ago to prevent the wood from roting...This means that during any storm, the rain comes down in strange places. I have figured out where to place the buckets, but I would like to have better control so my neighbors won't freak out everytime we have a storm and watch me run outside to move my buckets around the eaves to collect that good stuff!!! LOL

Randy, That sounds like a great idea but the drainage for my air handling units are draining right at ground level and only looks like a few drips per minute.

Jim, I like the way you have set up the 35 gallon rubber trash cans..Do you raise the first one up on a table or something first (Then cut a small V) or large V? only to drain into the one slightly (Under/beside). I am curious on how you have yours set up!! Sounds like something I would like to try!!! Could you possibly post a pic or tell me exactly how you set your cans? I would greatly appreciate any help!!!

Thank you for your time!!!

Laura in VB

P.S. My sandals have not left my feet for 3 days now!!! The rubber and my skin are all in one!!! LOL !!! New type of sandals...watch for them on E_Bay!!! LOL!!!

We had a brief, but very intense thunderstorm yesterday. So intense it damaged my two Crepe Myrtles. Arrggg!!!

Anyway, I run a dehumidifier in my basement and use the water it collects in the garden.

You could also place a bucket or two in the shower when you wash up.

Laura

I put the first T-can on cinder blocks as the weight is great!
I then find the low spot and cut a V about 2" deep at the top of the 'can',
once the water pours out of the gutter and overflows the first can the second will fill.

I would use something a lot bigger if I could find it,some people use 500 gallon containers to catch the water.

If I could store all the water off the roof,I don't think I would ever need a hose.

I also have little wells around my palms and bananas so I don't have to water everything at once.

I will try and get a pic up in my next yard update.

Hey Laura

Here is how I set up my "water storage system"(-;
and what it looks like done right!

These people(did it nice!) utilize all their gutters/downspouts and have spickets on the bottom of there cans,I have seen these going for $100,looks great but I prefer the $10 a can plan-

Thanks Jim for the great pics...I am going to try your method of collecting the rainwater. That seems like the best way for me.

What a setup for collection!!! They really have it all down pat!!! I think that the simple method will be perfect for me (especially the 10$ cans : ) )

Thank you for the great info and for the quick response!!!

Now all I need is some rain!!!

Take care everyone!!!

Laura in VB

No doubt some rain will help.

I wonder where all the excess goes from their cans,during a heavy downpour(+ 1") I think I could fill 5-10 cans!

Notice that they even have a smaller pipe on the left side of their yard with a small metal pail to collect the extra water!!! They really have a great system!! It seems that they try and collect every drop!!! Good for them!!!

Good question on the runoff...and also storage? You would think that it would have an overflow valve with all of the bells and whistles that the container has already or even more connectors to divert the water to other containers.

Regardless, it's a great operation!!! Great job!!

We had a shower pass through last night...it only lasted about fifteen minutes.... We need more!!!
I guess I need to dance some more...see ya!!!

Laura in VB

Make sure to keep the palms really well watered! We might break an all time record high here. Looks like 102F-103F on Tuesday!

Heres my 5 day forecast....

July 5 - 99/77
July 6 - 102/80
July 7 - 98/75
July 8 - 92/76
July 9 - 90/73

A very warm and dry forecast ahead!!
Good luck!
-Alex