Drink in these cool tips on the best ways to water in the hot season! What do we do in the late summer when the dry heat sets in? Do we ease off our watering and let our plants adapt? Or do we double our watering efforts to keep our gardens fresh? Most plants' water needs continue to stay the same. But if we weren't watering wisely before, the late summer challenges us to change up the techniques that weren't working and make sure our watering schedule is satisfactory for both our plants and our water bills.
Water Your Plants Before They Wilt
Some folks say you should wait to water until your plant shows signs that it needs it. But if you wait until they wilt, then the plant is already stressed, and the lack of water has started to do some harm. It's best to water before that happens.
You May Not Need to Water Every Day
Others say you should water your plants every day, but that's not the best recipe either. The plants' roots need oxygen, so if you water too often, you run the risk of drowning them. In dry spells, they might need water every day, but check the soil to make sure. (We'll explain how in a moment!)
No Need to Give them any Predetermined Amount of Water
You may have read advice recommending that you give your plants a certain amount of water each week, for example, an inch. While there is some truth to these rules--thumb, the conditions of your particular yard are unique and will respond best to a customized approach. If you have sandy soil, the water will drain more quickly, whereas clay-based soil will retain water for longer. If your plants are exposed to sun, shade, or wind, they'll have different moisture needs. The truth is that there is no magic amount of water that you need to provide from day to day or week to week—it all depends!
Move Beyond the Watering Schedule
Another common practice is to set a watering schedule, like watering every Tuesday and Friday morning. While this is better than watering every day, you may be either wasting water or not watering enough. It all depends on what your plants need in your specific conditions. Rather than setting a watering schedule, it's better to make a habit of checking the soil each morning and watering as needed.
How Does Watering Work Beneath the Soil?
Before we learn to monitor soil moisture, let's look at what's happening beneath the surface. After a good rain or soaking, the soil will be deeply saturated, past where your plant's roots end. Afterward, the soil begins to dry from the top down. As this happens, the roots can still access water that is deeper below the surface. If we let the process carry on, the soil will dry to deeper and deeper levels. Before the soil around the roots dries out completely, we want to water again.
Tune Into Your Garden With a Simple Finger Check
How do we know when to water? Even in our age of advanced technology, your finger is still the best tool for checking soil moisture. Simply insert your pointer finger into the soil to your second knuckle. If you don't feel any moisture, then it's time to water. Of course, there are exceptions. Containers dry out much faster and have less soil mass around the root. They should be watered when the top half-inch of soil is dry. New transplants also need more frequent waterings before their roots are established.
Water Less Frequently but More Deeply
This is a tip that applies at all times of the year, but especially in the heat of late summer. A shallow watering is more likely to evaporate quickly and encourages shallow rooting. Deep watering lets the water penetrate far below the surface, away from hot air, and encourages your plants to root deeper into the soil. Deep, well-established roots may turn out to be the plant's saving grace when the next drought comes along.
Mulch To Save Water
It's especially beneficial for your water bill if you add a layer of mulch to your soil. A healthy layer of straw, leaves, bark mulch, or wood chips keeps moisture from evaporating, and lets water penetrate into the earth more easily. Exposed soil often deflects water and encourages evaporation. Mulch also feeds your soil microbes and protects them from the sun, both of which are crucial for topsoil health.
What's the Best Time of Day to Water?
It's usually best to water in the morning so that any moisture on your leaves dries out as quickly as possible. Watering in the evening may invite the growth of moisture-loving fungi overnight. In times of heat, however, this tip may not apply. If your plants are so dry that you need to water in the evening, then your leaves will probably air themselves out overnight as well. Avoid watering mid-afternoon to prevent the water from evaporating before the plants have gotten their fill!Water the Soil, Not the LeavesThis is another timeless tip that is especially relevant in late summer. If you're keen on saving water, direct it into the soil and avoid wetting the leaves. You'll prevent water from evaporating and discourage any fungal growth on the foliage.
Water All Around the Drip Line
The roots of a plant extend to the perimeter of their leaves, known as the drip line. Instead of just soaking the crown, make sure you nourish all of the plant's roots by soaking the soil several inches beyond the immediate stem area. This will help more of the root system access water and promote more growth below the surface.All of these tips apply at any time of the season, yet they become much more important when the weather is hot and rain is scarce. We tend to focus on perennials and annuals, but don't forget to water your trees and shrubs, too! Big or small, all of your plants need water to continue to produce the flowers, foliage, and fruit that keep your Arkansas landscape beautiful all year.
