Water Your Summer Garden
As Mother Nature turns up the heat in your garden, make sure you're watering your plants properly. Good watering habits help make the most of every precious drop. Here are 13 tips to help your plants survive the summer heat:
1. Test the soil with your finger. Poke a few inches down near the stem to check the root zone. You can also use a soil moisture meter like this 3-in-1 moisture, pH, and sunlight intensity tester. Even if the surface looks dry, there may be moisture underneath. If not, get the tube!
2. Watering in the morning is best. This allows water to soak up water before it evaporates from hot and dry air, allows leaves to dry out after splashing, and allows plants to absorb moisture during the heat of the day. The afternoon is second best, making sure the foliage dries before nightfall. Avoid watering in the day's heat, as water evaporates too quickly, and overspray on leaves can burn them.
3. Watering wand, long neck irrigation, soaker hose, or drip system at the base of the plant. Avoid wetting leaves, fruits, or vegetables to prevent moisture-prone diseases such as powdery mildew.
4. Wind dries plants quickly from moisture lost through leaves - the bigger the leaves, the more water they lose (squash, cucumber, coral beads, etc.). Protect plants with barriers such as a structure made of shade cloth or locate them away from windy areas.
5. Fruits and vegetables need consistent water to produce well. Don't let them dry out completely before watering again, as this can cause problems like blossom end rot or cracked tomatoes. Learn more about how to water tomatoes.
6. Containers dry out much faster than ground and need frequent watering, especially if they are kept in full sun or exposed to wind.
7. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch such as bark, pine needles, or shredded leaves. It helps retain moisture in the soil.
8. If there are puddles on top of the soil, apply a little to smooth the surface. Come back after a few minutes and add more to make sure it soaks in completely.
9. Brown leaf edges and/or yellow leaves indicate overwatering. Also, check before adding.
10. Plants benefit more from slow and deep watering than rapid splashing. Make sure to water deep enough to reach the root ball.
11. If summer vacation is going to keep you away for more than a day or two, setting an automatic timer is worth the effort. Use self-watering pots for your container plants to reduce daily watering chores.
12. Recycle plastic bottles as a deep watering system. Punch a hole in the bottle and bury it near the plants to expose the top opening. Add water to the bottle through the top and the water will seep out deep into the soil.
13. Unglazed clay pots are more porous and allow water to evaporate faster than glazed or plastic pots. During wet times of the year, they do well by allowing the soil to drain well and not get wet, but pay extra attention to them in drought or hot weather.
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