Your Summer Watering Guide for Happy and Healthy Plants
2. Water Less Frequently, but More ThoroughlyWhether your plant is in a pot or in the ground, aim to soak the root zone when you water. This helps promote healthy root systems and allows plants to go longer between waterings.Water containers gradually until the soil is fully saturated and water begins to drip out of the base of the pot (excluding containers with cactus and succulents). For annuals and perennials in beds, use a soaker hose, drip irrigation or a sprinkler to fully saturate the soil. Water lawns about 1 inch per week. Give large, mature trees a monthly deep soak.Shop for hoses, watering cans and other irrigation supplies
3. Know Your Plant Types, Even Just GenerallyHaving an overall sense of which plants in your yard need more water than others can help prioritize water use in the landscape and ensure plants are getting as much or as little water as they need to thrive.Not all plants require additional summer water; some even prefer keeping their toes dry in the hottest months of the year. Depending on where they’re from, native plants — particularly those from the Southwest, Texas and California — are well-adapted to dry summers and do not require supplemental summer water. (Some natives do appreciate a drink in a heat wave, though).Grouping plants in the landscape based on water requirements (low-water, moderate and high-water) can streamline irrigation.
4. Invest in Water-Saving Irrigation SystemsGetting your garden set up on a smart irrigation system can cut down on overall water use and deliver water just where plants need it. Soaker hoses and drip emitters work well for annual, perennial and vegetable beds as well as around shrubs and trees. Set pop-up lawn sprinklers to run via a controller in the early morning or at night.
There are plenty of smart irrigation controllers that you can hook up to the hose bib to control just how much water each area of the landscape receives. They can be programmed to run different amounts of irrigation in different zones, and many automatically shut off if it rains. Cut down on excess water use further with a smart irrigation system that comes with in-ground soil moisture sensors that monitor the moisture level in each bed.Find an irrigation pro in your area
6. Avoid Overhead Watering If You Have Mildew-Prone PlantsWater that sits on plant leaves can lead to plants contracting diseases. Powdery mildew is one of the most common diseases in summer gardens, as the fungal disease thrives in warm, humid air. To prevent mildew, avoid overhead watering, as it increases air humidity and wets plant leaves. Instead, use soaker hoses, drip emitters, or hand-water at the soil-level with a controlled nozzle. Common garden plants that shouldn’t get wet leaves include roses, tomatoes, zinnias, squash and melons. The gravel garden in the arid Southern California pictured here is in full sun (read: will quickly zap moisture) and is filled with non-mildew-prone cutting flowers, veggies and Mediterranean herbs. Morning overhead watering is just fine in this application.
7. Give Mature Trees Some Extra LoveIn climates with dry summers, non-native trees benefit from deep, soaking irrigation a few times each season. Use a sprinkler set on low and move it all around the drip line of the tree (the imaginary circle on the ground beneath the tree canopy where water would drip off), leaving it in each area until soil is saturated a few inches down before moving the sprinkler to the next spot. You can also use a deep-root irrigator that you can drive into the soil from 1 to 2 feet deep. Attach it to the end of a hose and soak the soil for 10 to 15 mins. Repeat all around the tree’s drip line.
8. Water Container Plants ConsistentlyPotted plants dry out more quickly than those in the ground. To keep them from wilting, come up with a consistent watering schedule (often two times a week or more during hot weather) and soak the soil each time you water. Cluster container gardens to make hand-watering easier, or hook the pots up to a drip irrigation line set on a timer.Learn more about watering your container plants over summer
9. Give Veggies Plenty of MoistureStandard turf grass lawns easily top the chart for most summer water required, but edible gardens are a close second. Edible plants need consistent moisture to set fruit and grow nice, juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and more.The easiest way to make sure your fruits and veggies are getting enough water is to set beds or pots on drip irrigation or soaker hoses put on a timer. If you didn’t set that up this year, come up with a hand-watering schedule and stick with it. Top beds with straw or wood chip mulch to keep the soil cool and prevent evaporation.
10. Avoid OverwateringIf a plant’s leaves are wilting, even if the soil is damp, there’s a good chance you’re overwatering. When a plant has been sitting in water-logged soil for an extended period of time, the roots can rot and the plant can contract one of a few soil-borne diseases. If one plant in a bed is wilting and the others look fine, pull out the plant to keep any potential root diseases from spreading.To prevent root rot in the future, allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings, and never allow plants to sit in standing water. Make sure all containers have drainage holes.
1. Water When It’s Cool OutCut water loss through evaporation by watering early in the morning or in the evening once temperatures drop. If a plant or bed is wilting, you can top up with a midday water. Avoid overhead sprays, if you can, as water droplets left on the leaves can make plants more susceptible to plant diseases and can act as mini magnifying lenses during the hottest parts of the day to cause sunburn spots.
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