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TIMELY TOPICS
In the hot summer month of July, we are often focused on watering to keep our plants in the landscape and garden alive. With water being an essential natural resource, we want to make sure that we conserve water and avoid wasting it. There are simple steps you can take to conserve water but keep your garden alive and growing during the summer.
Early morning (5 to 9 a.m.) is the best time to water the garden, especially when using a sprinkler, garden hose, or any other device that wets the plant foliage. When watering is completed, the plant foliage dries quickly. The rapid drying of plant foliage helps guard against the development of fungal diseases. Additionally, a morning application allows the water to soak deeply into the soil with little water lost to evaporation.
Switch overhead watering to soaker hoses and drip irrigation where possible. This can reduce landscape water use by up to 50 percent. Much water from overhead watering can be lost to evaporation before it even reaches the plant roots.
When hand watering, water at the base of plants instead of over top the leaves. This allows more water to reach the plant roots before evaporating and discourages plant diseases by keeping the leaves drier.
Avoid watering plants on a schedule just for the sake of watering. Water deeply and less frequently, then use a soil probe or a long spike to check moisture below the surface. Lightly watering plants every day does not encourage a deep root system that plants need to better withstand dry periods. Instead, soak the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches to encourage roots to seek water.
Adding organic matter either by incorporation at planting or as a mulch increases water-holding capacity of the soil. Mulching around plants in landscape and gardens not only helps control weeds but will reduce water loss from the soil due to evaporation. Many plants are often tougher than we give them credit for. Perennial plants may need routine water in their first year to get them established but once established these should be able to withstand some dry weather and should only need watering in the event of a serious, months-long drought. Vegetables and annuals are more likely to require watering during the growing season.
Try to select plants appropriate for the particular site. For example, don’t expect a willow tree adapted to riparian creek bottom to thrive in the full sun of an upland landscape. Plant drought tolerant plants when possible. Once established, drought tolerant plants will not need regular watering and will thrive during hot, dry weather.
The content of this week’s column is drawn from an article by North Carolina State Extension agent Jessica Strickland and from an article published by Iowa State University. For a complete copy of these articles or more information on this topic, please contact me, Tom Stanley, through the Rockbridge Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension at (540) 463-4734 or by e-mail at [email protected].
