July 1, 2012

Happy Sunday and July!

Summer has brought another busy week with very high temps and humidity! I had a bridal shower this week and got to enjoy a brewery and winery tour. We took our nephew to Sea Life at the Mall of America and I was asked to be part of another wedding next summer. I have definitely been taking advantage of summer weather and long sunny days. 

Since it has been so hot and humid this week I thought I would share some tips about watering plants and keeping your greens alive during these hot days with little rain.

Without water, plants wilt and die. But too much water can be as bad for plants as not enough. If land plants are submerged in water for too long, even if just their roots are submerged, they may rot or drown from lack of oxygen.

• Apply water in the cool of the morning or evening when the wind is calm and water loss through evaporation is minimal.
• Avoid watering disease-susceptible plants at night. If water sits on plant foliage for hours, it can encourage fungal diseases to attack leaves, buds, flowers, and fruit. Plants susceptible to leaf spots, fruit rots, and flower blights are best watered in the morning, when the warming sun will quickly dry the leaves and discourage fungus development.
• Provide an inch of water a week for many plants and lawn grasses. The idea is to keep the soil lightly moist and to prevent it from drying out completely, whic­h would be damaging to most plants. But because plants don't always follow the rules, there are exceptions to this general guideline:
• More water may be necessary if you have hot­ weather, dry sandy soil, or crowded intensive plantings or containers.
• When the weather is cool, the plants are widely spaced, or the soil is heavy and moisture-
  retentive, less water may be required.
• Young or new plantings require more moisture
  at the soil surface to help their roots get established. You should water more often to accommodate their needs.
• Mature plantings with large root systems can
  be watered heavily and less often than younger plants. The moisture soaks deep into the soil and encourages the roots to thrive. ­
• Set a rain gauge in an open area of the garden to learn how much water the garden receives each week. You can purchase an inexpensive one at a garden center. After each rainfall, check the depth of the rain inside. A commercial rain gauge is calibrated and easy to read. Judge the need for supplemental irrigation accordingly.

--Molly