How to Water Your Plants This Summer

It is that time of year where the sun is starting to intensify, and the cool, refreshing spring breeze becomes heavy with heat. With this change in season, make sure your flowers and garden plants stay hydrated and healthy!

Consistent Watering Is Key!

For best results in your garden, stick to a watering schedule, and be sure to water deeply. This will help encourage deep rooting systems and healthy plants. The best way to tell if you are watering your garden adequately is to dig down into the dirt surrounding your plants after you have watered. If you watered enough, moisture should be seen at least 3-4 inches beneath the surface. If soil at this depth is dry, the roots of your plant are not getting enough access to water, and you should consider extending your watering schedule.

Be Careful Not to Overwater

When the temperatures soar, it is quite common to see garden plants and annual flowers wilt mid-day. In these hot conditions, the plant will “shut down” in order to conserve moisture. So if your plants start to wilt, worry not! This is simply your plants way of protecting itself. Though watering can sometimes help these droopy leaves perk back up, wilting is not always an indication that the plant needs water. Check the soil for moisture before watering, and only water additionally if the moisture in the soil has not soaked deep enough to be able to be accessed by the roots of your garden plants. In extreme conditions, use of a shade cloth, temporary pergola or something similar is helpful to protect the plants during the hottest hours of the day.

As the season progresses, tomato plants and other veggies will start to look rough. Over-watering will not make them look any better. And just because they look a little scraggly doesn’t mean that they aren’t healthy. They look so ragged because all the plants energy is being directed to fruit production. So do yourself and your plant a favor: stick to your watering schedule and only water when the soil needs it, not because you feel bad for the plant.

Make Sure You Use the Right Soil!

For veggies or flowers planted in containers, make sure they are potted in the proper soil. Premium grade potting mix is the best soil for planting in containers as it provides good water retention without getting soggy. For both garden vegetables and annual flowers, watering frequency depends several conditions such as the size of your container, sun exposure, the type of soil, wind conditions, and the like. A large container will need more water, less frequently, where a small container might need less water, more frequently. Additionally, a pot placed in the sun will require more water than one placed in a shady spot.

So, get to know your plants! And if you have any other questions, or are struggling with a grumpy plant that doesn’t seem to respond well no matter what you do, reach out! We are here and we are happy to help. Send us an email, give us a call, shoot us a Facebook message, or reach out through Instagram with any and all of your plant and gardening questions.