Watering Tips For Plants In The Summer Heat

The July summer heat is here. How is your garden growing? Are things looking up and green or are there signs of wilt in your plants? Want to make the most of the water resources we have while keeping your garden plants thriving and producing flowers and fruit or vegetables? With the thermometer reaching 30+ degrees for days in a row, it seems safe to bet that this summer is going to be a hot one!

Here are four tips to help you conserve water while ensuring your gardens and lawn thrives and produces the best vegetables and longest-lasting blooms possible.

Water Deep

Avoid watering the very top layer of soil only. You want your plants to send out deep roots and you can promote this by watering enough for the water to reach the roots. As the water seeps into the soil, the roots will reach and seek it out. Strong deep roots are the best protection against wind, drought, and other problems.

Let The Soil Dry

Between waterings, leave enough time for the soil to dry out. In combination with the tip above, this will help promote deep roots also. Now, when we say let the soil dry out, you don't want it to look like a sun-baked desert. You can feel when the soil is dry. Dry soil is often hard packed or might be closer to consistency of dust. Roots that are kept constantly wet will be prone to rot. Roots that don't receive enough water will stress and the plant won't thrive. It may produce smaller fruit or stop flowering in self-preservation.

Water Early

The best time of day to water is early in the day. Give the gardener a break. Enjoy the deck or pool during the hottest time of the day. Instead, get up with the early birds (or set the timer on your sprinkler system) to water in the cooler morning hours. Watering at this time day allows the water to seep into the soil instead of evaporating into the air. Morning watering means plants have a chance to dry their leaves before night time. Plants that are wet all night can be prone to mold and fungus problems.

Water Smart

There are a number of tools on the market that will help you conserve water without a lot of extra effort on your part. Program your sprinklers to come on in the morning. Install a sensor that will detect when the soil needs water and will measure how much water has been delivered. The experts at Nutri-Lawn Burlington Irrigation can help you choose the right sensor for your needs.

Install a rain barrel. Place it beneath the downspout from your home's roof. You'd be surprised how much water is diverted off your roof. The collected rain can be used to water gardens manually, or install a drip irrigation line with the rain barrel to water gardens or containers.

The lawn care and sprinkler system experts at Nutri-Lawn Burlington Irrigation can help you take the guess work out of residential and commercial irrigation and offer the major brands with professional expertise. Contact us today for your complimentary quote.