by
Helen M. Davis Oh, the heat. As the mercury creeps upward, things get dryer, including the plants you have worked so hard to cultivate. It seems like no matter how much attention you give them, they still suffer stress in the high temperatures and start to look as though they are gasping their last wee breaths. Do not despair and begin to think your green thumb is actually gangrene. Do not come to the belief that you should summon a priest to give your plants Last Rites. All is not lost and by following these tips, your plants should be happy little campers despite the heat, even if you are feeling like you might just dissolve. WATER LIKE YOU’R A PRO To start off, do your watering in the early morning to allow your plants to absorb as much water as they possibly can. Should you water later during the hotter parts of the day, your plants will absorb less as the heat causes plant physiology to shut down. Drip irrigation or watering by hand is fantastic for getting water at the roots where it’s needed, but you must make sure to wet the entire zone. Otherwise, it will be akin to just giving your plants a tantalizing sip and leaving them thirsty and you wouldn’t want to do that to them anymore than you would want someone to do that to you. For those who prefer to sleep later, or those who would rather not be out in the heat, and those who work outside the home, hose end battery timers on faucets can be used to automatically water so you don’t have to. Overhead watering is another good choice as it can cool the foliage and prevent burning. After all, nobody wants their plants to suffer burnt leaves. That doesn’t look very pretty and we all want our plants to look their best. Some plants shut down in the heat and do not take up water resourcefully so cooling the leaves reduces the stress they suffer. Give them a good shower, and they will be grateful. ADDITIONAL WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR PLANTS WATER NEEDS Mulching is a good practice as it cools the soil and keeps weeds, the bane of every gardener’s existence, from growing and using the water meant for your plants. Mulch can consist of shredded bark or other decorative materials. Compost is a great type of mulch as it also helps to improve the quality of the soil. If you can get it, tree trimmers mulch is a fantastic resource. Because weeds are thieves and take the water meant for your plants for themselves, it is imperative that you remove them. It isn’t necessarily fun, but when you look at a freshly weeded garden, there is a big satisfaction felt about a job well done. HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU USE AND HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU USE IT Flower and vegetable beds require about a inch of water every week, but in the case of extreme heat, they may require more and you should water every day or every other day. Flowers and vegetables in containers may require deep waterings daily if they are located in full sun and potentially every other day if they are located in the shade. To determine if watering is necessary, test the soil with your finger. If it’s dry to you, imagine how your plants must feel. Shrubs and trees that are newly planted should be watered deeply when the soil is dry, and they may need watering every day. Again, use the finger test. Newly planted shrubs and trees will perish if they do without water for a few days. They should be closely watched for two or so years. Young trees require about 10 gallons per inch on their trunk each week. During lengthy dry spells even established shrubs and trees may need to be watered. They get thirsty, too, after all! When you do so, you should apply a deep watering over the entire root zone until the top two feet of soil has been penetrated. Your shrubs and trees will have their thirst quenched and they will think of you as a rock star. It is important to avoid watering lightly as this, naturally, quickly evaporates and has little in the way of benefits to your plants. Shallow watering also results in shallow roots and plants with shallow roots will be more vulnerable to the heat of summer and stress from drought. Deep watering encourages deeper rooting, and this makes for happier plants. LEAVING TOWN FOR AWHILE? Preferably, when you go away, you will have a friend or family member come over to water your plants in your absence. If this is not possible, try the following techniques. For outdoors, place the aforementioned battery timers on your faucets for scheduled waterings. This is easy and works well for both short or long trips. Buy yourself a good low sprinkler or a soaker hose. Attach it to the timer, set the timer for the preferred day, time, and length of watering and you are good to go. If it is possible, containers should be relocated to the shadiest spots in your yard while you are gone and you should also deadhead before you leave as this will alleviate some of the stress on the plants. For those annuals and perennials that rebloom, deadheading will invigorate the plants and you will have fresh blossoms to come home to and enjoy. Having a well-watered garden doesn’t take a degree in rocket science. It just takes a bit of planning and know how. Your plants rely on you and the better the care you give them, the more they will give you whether it be beautiful blossoms or a bounty of produce. Watering can even be enjoyable, and a sense of satisfaction can be experienced with this task as well. You no doubt can think of other things you’d enjoy doing more, but when you see the fruits of your labor, you won’t be able to resist smiling as you take in a job well done. And, who knows? Your plants may be smiling right back at you!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
September 2023
Categories |