The long hot days of summer are
stressful to every living creature, including all your plants. If you are tired
of the endless task of keeping your plants watered, it is time to think about
adding mulch to your beds. I know that hotter weather is just ahead, so do
yourself and your plantings a huge favor and apply mulch. If you have beds that
have never been mulched, add 3” around all annuals, perennials, roses, trees
and shrubs. Top dress previously mulched beds with an additional inch of fresh
mulch. Not only does mulch hold in moisture, relieving you of some of your
watering tasks, it also keeps the soil cooler, so your plants will be less
heat-stressed. An added bonus is that weed seeds have a difficult time
germinating when buried in mulch, reducing the time you spend weeding.
One of the most common questions
that we receive at this time of year is, “How much do I water my ______?” I
will try to explain some basic guidelines here:
Vegetables and Bedding Plants planted in the
ground: established plants need at least one inch of water per week, more when
bearing fruit. Check the soil around the plants, when it is dry one inch down, it’s
time to water.
Container Gardens and Hanging
Baskets: check your containers every day for water. Either test the soil by
touch or lift the pot. Most baskets and many containers will need to be watered
once, or even twice a day, depending on the weather. I suggest you fertilize
once a week.
Perennials: newly planted perennials
need daily watering until established, at least one to two weeks, depending on
weather. After they show signs of new growth, apply a one inch per week rule.
Trees and Shrubs: newly planted
trees and shrubs should be watered every 4-5 days for the entire first year
after planting, unless rainfall is abundant. Place the end of your hose next to
the base of the plant and let the water trickle very slowly for about two
hours. This will allow the root zone to become thoroughly saturated.
Established Lawns: your lawn should
be watered when the grass blades don’t bounce back after being walked on. One
inch of water per week should keep your lawn green and healthy. It is best to water
early in the morning, before the heat of the day. This keeps evaporation to a
minimum, and allows plenty of time for the grass to dry before nightfall, which
will help prevent fungus problems.
Newly Seeded or Sodded Lawns: for
better germination, I suggest you mulch grass seed with straw as soon as it is
planted. Once seed has germinated or sod has been laid, they must not be
allowed to dry out. Water daily with a sprinkler until there is good growth.
Early morning is again the best time. Once established, go back to the one inch
per week rule.
Water Gardens: also require an occasional
addition of water. Check your pond weekly and add water as needed. Water plants
have variable depth requirements, so you need to keep the water levels
consistent.
So continue to enjoy your outdoor
spaces and make relationships with your plants! They can give you so much in
return!
See you in the Garden,
Sandi Hillermann
McDonald
No comments:
Post a Comment