Maid To Garden

In The Garden Of Good Living - July 2009: Secrets Of Warm Weather Watering
by Pat Hendrickson

It's July, and time to sit back and enjoy the benefits of all your hard work in the garden! There may still be other chores to do in the garden, but your primary concern will be to make sure there is plenty of water for your plants.

Gardener's Tips

During the summer months, it's most important to water thoroughly and deeply each time, and to allow the soil to dry out before watering again. Deep watering causes the plant's roots to travel deeper, making it less likely for the roots to dry out and anchoring the plant more strongly.
Watering plants too lightly actually wastes water, because the water never actually reaches the root zone of the plant, and the moisture rapidly evaporates from the top inch of soil.
To see if your plants are receiving enough water, dig down a few inches into the soil. If the soil is moist 3 to 4 inches below the surface, water is probably reaching the roots and you're good to go.
If you planted drought resistant plants in your garden, you won't need to water as often, but the principal of deep watering still applies.
As the weather gets hotter, container plants will need extra attention. Check the soil daily, and water the container until the water runs through the drainage holes.
As a final note, it's best to water plants during the morning hours so that the leaves can dry off a bit before the hot sun hits them. Watering during evening hours can be a problem if the foliage doesn't have a chance to dry before the temperature drops at night, creating the perfect conditions for susceptibility to fungus and disease.