Waterwise, A Guide to Summer Watering

Hampton Roads’ summers are long, hot and humid, and we’re approaching that time of year when water becomes the essential elixir in your garden. Plentiful spring rains are a thing of the past and the summer sun beats down relentlessly, scorching plants, lawns, and trees. You water, but is it enough? Is it at the right time of day? Why is it so difficult to keep everything from drying out? Here are some tips to ensure your plants and lawn make it through the extreme heat of summer:

Lawns

• Water between 5:00am-10:00am in order to prevent evaporation which occurs during the hottest part of the day. Morning is better than evening, since dampness encourages growth of fungus.
• Water long enough to soak the roots. A light sprinkling evaporates quickly and results in shallow root systems.
• Allow an inch of water per week on your lawn.
• Adjust your hose to create a gentle rain. Sprinklers that produce a fine mist waste water due to evaporation.

Vegetable and Flower Gardens

• Keep soil loose so water can easily penetrate.
• Remove weeds to reduce competition for water.
• Place the water where you want it and avoid evaporation by using soil-soakers or slow-running hoses, not sprinklers.
• Too much water can be just as bad for plants as not enough. Plants that are submerged in water for too long may rot or drown from lack of oxygen.

Trees and Shrubs

• Water deeply using a soil-soaker.
• Water only when needed. Check the depth of soil dryness. While the surface may be dry, moisture is retained beneath the surface to sustain trees and shrubs.
• Mulch to reduce evaporation. Add a 2′ to 3′ layer of wood chips, pine needles or grass clippings to keep soil cool in summer.
• Mulch not only reduces weeds but also adds landscape interest.
• Water plants growing in full sun more often than those in shade.
• Do not fertilize during the summer. Fertilizing increases a plant’s need for water.

Look for these plant clues for signs of over-watering or under-watering:

Signs of Over-Watering

• Soil is constantly damp.
• Leaves turn yellow or a lighter shade of green.
• Young shoots are wilted.
• Leaves are brittle but still green.
• Algae and mushrooms are growing.

Signs of Under-Watering

• Soil is dry.
• Older leaves turn yellow or brown, and drop off.
• Leaves are wilted or curl.

For additional tips on watering check out our blog on The Five W’s of Watering