Summer months mean extreme heat, if you live in most parts of the country. Though sunshine and warm weather are needed to grow a healthy garden, extreme heat is like a death ray for your plants if they don’t have enough water.
Even then, some plants are going to die, and so it goes, the life of a gardener.
In Oklahoma specifically there have been a record number of days where temperatures have topped 100 degrees, and there's been little to no rain. To help your garden survive, you’ve got to be on top of the watering process.
Here are 5 tips to help make watering more effective (and less expensive) during these unforgiving summer months.
Even then, some plants are going to die, and so it goes, the life of a gardener.
In Oklahoma specifically there have been a record number of days where temperatures have topped 100 degrees, and there's been little to no rain. To help your garden survive, you’ve got to be on top of the watering process.
Here are 5 tips to help make watering more effective (and less expensive) during these unforgiving summer months.
1. Prepare your plants
Your plants need to be armed if they’re going to win this battle.
Use mulch to help prevent run-off and to hold moisture for longer periods of time between watering.
Try straw, shredded paper or cardboard, or leaves. These organic mulch options are practically free.
Also, mix in water-absorbing materials into your soil. Peat moss, leaf mold, and regular compost will soak up a few times its weight in water, making them effective and inexpensive organic materials to give your plants a little relief during dry spells.
2. Pick the right times
Don’t water in the middle of the afternoon. This is when the heat is at its highest. Watering at improper times will only run up your water bill and leave your plants parched.
Water early in the morning. Shoot for 6 a.m. This will give your plants time to soak up the nutrients before the sun sucks it back out of them.
Water again in the late afternoon. This will replenish the nutrients your plants lost during the day.
If you want a healthy garden you have to be dedicated to it, but that doesn't mean it has to suck all your time. To keep yourself from being chained to the hose all summer, invest in an automatic timer. Automatic timers keep you focused, strategic, and they’re cost effective.
3. Water slowly and deeply
Watering less is more effective and more practical than watering more.
Focus your watering at the base of the plant. The roots will grow stronger.
Don’t rush the watering process. Shallow waterings only run off before your plant can absorb it. Instead, let the water soak into the soil. This takes times. Make a drink and be patient.
Use drip lines and soaker hoses to prep the soil to help decrease run-off. You can bury them or just set them on top. Either way, drip lines get water to the root zone, where it’s more effective.
Drip lines can also help plants suffering from leaf diseases. By keeping the water concentrated at the root, the leaves will stay dry, giving your plant a better chance at warding off infection.
4. Collect the rain
Natural watering is always better than artificial watering, so when it does rain, don’t just sit and watch. Be productive.
Set out your watering cans, buckets, and barrels. Later on you can use Mother Nature’s water instead of paying for the City’s.
Move your potted plants out from under patio awnings or other shade devices. Get them in a position where they can enjoy the rain, too.
Put your potted plants on plates or saucers. They’ll soak up the excess later.
Do a “thank you” dance. It’s always nice to have a reprieve from the watering process.
5. Alternate watering days
Over-watering can be as dangerous as under or improper watering.
Before watering, check to see if the soil's thirsty. Push your finger into it. If it’s moist a knuckle or two deep, it doesn’t need water. If it’s dry, get out the hoses.
If you have a large garden (or even if you don’t), alternate watering days. Many cities have passed water restrictions to help conserve their resources, as they should. To help out, try watering on specific days. For example, if your home address is an odd number, water on odd days only.
Every little bit helps, and since water is a precious commodity that will soon be more valuable than oil, we have to do our part to live in balance.
Your plants need to be armed if they’re going to win this battle.
Use mulch to help prevent run-off and to hold moisture for longer periods of time between watering.
Try straw, shredded paper or cardboard, or leaves. These organic mulch options are practically free.
Also, mix in water-absorbing materials into your soil. Peat moss, leaf mold, and regular compost will soak up a few times its weight in water, making them effective and inexpensive organic materials to give your plants a little relief during dry spells.
2. Pick the right times
Don’t water in the middle of the afternoon. This is when the heat is at its highest. Watering at improper times will only run up your water bill and leave your plants parched.
Water early in the morning. Shoot for 6 a.m. This will give your plants time to soak up the nutrients before the sun sucks it back out of them.
Water again in the late afternoon. This will replenish the nutrients your plants lost during the day.
If you want a healthy garden you have to be dedicated to it, but that doesn't mean it has to suck all your time. To keep yourself from being chained to the hose all summer, invest in an automatic timer. Automatic timers keep you focused, strategic, and they’re cost effective.
3. Water slowly and deeply
Watering less is more effective and more practical than watering more.
Focus your watering at the base of the plant. The roots will grow stronger.
Don’t rush the watering process. Shallow waterings only run off before your plant can absorb it. Instead, let the water soak into the soil. This takes times. Make a drink and be patient.
Use drip lines and soaker hoses to prep the soil to help decrease run-off. You can bury them or just set them on top. Either way, drip lines get water to the root zone, where it’s more effective.
Drip lines can also help plants suffering from leaf diseases. By keeping the water concentrated at the root, the leaves will stay dry, giving your plant a better chance at warding off infection.
4. Collect the rain
Natural watering is always better than artificial watering, so when it does rain, don’t just sit and watch. Be productive.
Set out your watering cans, buckets, and barrels. Later on you can use Mother Nature’s water instead of paying for the City’s.
Move your potted plants out from under patio awnings or other shade devices. Get them in a position where they can enjoy the rain, too.
Put your potted plants on plates or saucers. They’ll soak up the excess later.
Do a “thank you” dance. It’s always nice to have a reprieve from the watering process.
5. Alternate watering days
Over-watering can be as dangerous as under or improper watering.
Before watering, check to see if the soil's thirsty. Push your finger into it. If it’s moist a knuckle or two deep, it doesn’t need water. If it’s dry, get out the hoses.
If you have a large garden (or even if you don’t), alternate watering days. Many cities have passed water restrictions to help conserve their resources, as they should. To help out, try watering on specific days. For example, if your home address is an odd number, water on odd days only.
Every little bit helps, and since water is a precious commodity that will soon be more valuable than oil, we have to do our part to live in balance.
