Watering is so critical at this time of year. Too much or little can wallop a plant so its beauty and strength is diminished for the season. In the

Important Points:

Observe the plant in the early morning.  If the plant’s leaves are droopy in the early morning you are usually not watering enough.  If they are droopy on a hot day at noon or in the evening don’t measure it by that only. You droop too if you are in 90 degree heat at noon.

Watering times and amounts vary according to soil conditions and shade or sun. The less an area drains, the worse it is to water a long time, because water just sits in the bottom of the hole and takes a while to percolate.

Measure the amount your system is watering by placing a pan out in its path.  You want to measure 1” of water in the pan and then set your timer according to 1” increments.

Conserve water and help your plants and lawn. Don’t overwater or spoil your plants.  Less water forces their roots to go deep. Shallow rooted plants are less hearty in the long run. I had an established flowering shrub garden I watered once in last August’s drought. It was lovely and bloomed heavily.

Watering pots- You need to know if the plants in your pots like it dryer.  Try to put plants that like it dry or wet in the same pots.  Try not to mix them up even if they are pretty. You really should try to water pots every other day in the hot summer.  See if that works as a general rule.

Types of Watering
Sprinkler systems

• Check your system to see if water is being wasted in the street or cross watering. If it is overshooting call your company to adjust unless you have a straight head screwdriver and want to try it yourself.
• Read the instructions on your controller and try to operate it for yourself, for your own sanity, to save money and to shift watering times according to the weather.
• Set system – For lawns=1” -3 times a week and For beds- 1” or about 20 minutes – 3 times a week in the sun and 2 times a week in the shade.

Soaker hoses or Drip systems.

• After you water walk along the line of the drip house to see if water is seeping out everywhere somewhat evenly.  Stick your finger in the ground near it to see how deep the soil is saturated.

Using manual sprinklers

• Use the same watering guides as with the irrigation system but choose only those areas that need it.  You can buy a timer from Home Depot for $14.00 that can turn off on its own.

Hand watering

• This is the best for your plants.  You can look at each plant and give it what it alone needs. Kind of custom watering. The plant gets the water saturating the root system with little evaporation.
• Use it as a meditative time for you being outside.

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.