Summer Reminders

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-703 -- More Projects »

During hot, dry spells, water is probably what your plants want most. But don't water sparingly; you don't want to force the roots to stay near the soil surface to find water. Instead, deep soak your plants each and every time you water.

During the heat of summer, plants need extra attention--and usually extra water.

"Assuming you deep-soak your lawn and landscape plants each time you water, all you'll need to change is the frequency of your watering schedule," says master gardener Paul James. If you're accustomed to watering every five to seven days during much the year, you may find that you need to increase that schedule to every three to five days, especially if you live in a windy region. Wind can dry out plants faster than high temperatures can.

Here are some other tips to keep your plants healthy during the dog days of summer:

Figure A

Occasional misting (figure A) can help certain plants survive the heat of summer. Mist plants several hours before sundown so that the foliage doesn't stay moist overnight, thereby inviting fungal diseases. Make sure your birds, butterflies and other critters have a source of drinking water, whether in the form of a birdbath or garden pond.

Figure B

Water potted plants every day, and you may have to water more than once a day, depending on conditions. To effectively saturate the containers, first water thoroughly until you see water running out of the drainage hole. Then wait anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes and water again. This technique ensures that the rootball gets completely soaked. If you're worried about forgetting to water some of your potted plants, group them together (figure B).

To keep container plants healthy while you're away on vacation, try this trick. Pull back the mulch in a shady garden spot. Then place the potted plants on bare ground in a tight grouping, and tuck the mulch around the base of each pot. Water the plants and the surrounding soil thoroughly, and your prized potted plants should be fine for up to a week.

Don't fertilize landscape plants during the summer months. "During excessive heat, plants would just as soon slow their growth rates, and fertilizer does just the opposite, which also means you'd have to water even more," says James.

Raise the cutting height on your lawn mower. Doing so will result in a much healthier turf, and chances are you won't have to water it as often becasue the taller blades of grass will shade the soil and prevent it from drying out as fast.

Established landscape trees probably don't need to be watered during the summer, assuming you water the lawn on a regular basis. Moisture-loving trees such as the river birch, however, may need a dousing if drought continues.

Young trees, as well as shrubs and perennials, especially those planted during the preceding spring, will likely need water as often as every three days. Make sure you soak them well and often.

Figure C

Mulch your landscape plants heavily. Mulch is probably the surest way to ensure the health of all your plants during the heat of summer. If you applied mulch a few months ago, fluff it. Mulch tends to compact over time; water tends to run off rather than soak in. So use a rake to gently ruffle the surface (figure C).

Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-703
•	Summer Reminders
•	Q&A: Orb Weavers and More
•	Grafting

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