"What to do when it's Hot & Dry?" Since we have been experiencing extremely high temperatures and excessively dry weather conditions lately I thought it might be best to focus this month's article on something we often forget about when conditions outside are so oppressive....Watering ! When "we" get hot we drink extra fluids to keep from dehydrating and we run for the air conditioning. But, what about your landscape plants? They can neither run to the A/C to get cooled off nor can they get up and crawl to the faucet for a cool, refreshing drink. You may say, "they're plants, they're use to being outside". Well, unfortunately they also NEED a drink. When the ground begins to dry up so do they're roots. When your plants don't receive enough water they become stressed and stressed plants are perfect targets for disease and insect infestation. Just like us, when our bodies are strong and healthy we can ward off things like colds and flu etc. but when we are stressed and weakened we are most susceptible. So this IS the time when watering your plants is absolutely critical. Most plants will need 1 to 1 1/2" of water per week to maintain their health and vigor. Since we have only had .67" of rain the entire month of July, and if you have not been watering, then your plants are probably getting extremely stressed. Here are the basics of proper watering. When you do need to water it is BEST to "slow soak" your plants deeply and thoroughly once a week. This could mean slowly watering each plant anywhere from a couple of minutes to 30 minutes or more depending on its size and age. A general rule of thumb for trees is to again "slow soak" a minimum of 5 minutes for each 1" of caliper ( diameter ). Newly planted trees and shrubs will need to be watered more often until they can get established. Once established you can cut back on the frequency of watering. Plants on the north side ( all shade ) or east side ( morning sun only ) will stay a bit more moist and will not need as much watering as those on the south (all day sun ) and west ( late afternoon sun ). It is also a good idea to take note of where your plants are actually located in your landscape. Plants installed under an overhang or tree or otherwise protected from rain will also need more. Even though it may have rained 2", plants in these areas may have received little or no moisture. NOTE: Vegetables and flowers may need to be watered daily or every other day. The worse thing you can do for your landscape plants is to water lightly everyday. Lightly watering only dampens the top layer of soil and promotes the growth of shallow roots. Shallow roots are more susceptible to drying out and surviving harsh winter conditions. So, again, when you water, water "slowly and thoroughly"! Lay the hose next to the plant and let the water run out "SLOWLY, VERY SLOWLY" so that it soaks in and does not run off. A quick shot does nothing but increase your water bill. If you don't have the time, initiative or physical ability to do this then invest in soaker hoses. At the risk of making this article too long for anyone to want to finish reading it, there is a Flip Side. It is also possible to "Love your plants to death".Too much water keeps the soil too wet for too long forcing much needed oxygen out of the soil. I mentioned this in last month's Newsletter but given the topic it is worth mentioning again. When there is too much water in the soil such as this past spring there is no space in the soil for oxygen and the roots become stressed and susceptible to fungi and disease. So, while you don't want your soil to become so dry that your plants wilt it is important that the soil dries out enough between watering to allow air to occupy some space in the soil. Aside from damage due to insect infestation there are basically 2 things that can lead to the eventual death of a plant: Not Enough water and Too Much water. OK, so now you are completely paranoid about watering! Right? Too much water and I kill them. Too little water and I kill them. Unfortunately that is the way of nature. But, don't panic. If you are unsure, get your fingers dirty. Stick your finger down in the soil next to the plant or plants and see how far down the soil is moist. Remember, plants need to be moist all the way to the base of their root ball. This is especially important for newly installed plants and should be easy to check due to the not yet compacted soil. If you don't like getting your fingers dirty, ask your wife, your husband, son, daughter or disgruntled neighbor to check for you. Hahaahaa!! Or, you could take a piece of unused wood such as a new paint stick and push it all the way in the ground for about 20 minutes. If it is discolored when you take it out your plant has plenty of moisture.....at least, For the Moment! Stay Cool, Ken |
