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Garden Life: Have you developed your strategy for watering?

By Robb Rosser

Published: June 18, 2015, 12:00am

Robb Rosser It's often the gardener's job to ensure that plants receive sufficient light, water and air.

I used to believe that our weather was impossible to predict. Until the last couple of years I’ve been unwilling to forecast more sunshine than rain before July fifth. I’m feeling optimistic about sustained sunshine this year, especially after the last few months of mild weather. The fact is we traditionally go into drought conditions in July and August. This year, I think we need to be prepared to begin watering earlier than usual. Once we head into summer drought, and we will, it’s important to make sure the plants in our gardens receive at least 1 inch of water each week.

Plants need light, water and air. Consistent water throughout the growing season is elemental for plant health in beds and borders. Plants that are weak from lack of water are more susceptible to pests and disease. It’s best to water deeply rather than often. Soaker hoses are efficient in a mixed border of perennials, shrubs, trees and annuals. Once plants are placed in the ground according to your planting plan, lay a soaker hose within a few inches of each plant’s base to assure that water soaks into the root system. Cover the soaker hose with 2 to 3 inches of mulch or compost.

Vegetable gardens do well with drip irrigation. Typically a vegetable garden is planted in a more orderly manner than a flower border. Plants are spaced evenly and in rows. With a drip system, each drip outlet takes care of the water needs of an individual plant. Tomatoes and peppers, eggplant and zucchini all love a well-watered root zone. If you have not done it yet, add an organic mulch to hold in moisture and retard the growth of weeds.

All container plants need special attention in hot, dry weather. It’s important to assure that each container holds enough water to keep the soil moist to within an inch of ground level. This may mean daily watering if temperatures stay high and the planters are exposed to the elements. Hanging baskets are especially susceptible to drying out since they are exposed on all sides as well as on the bottom. Try adding a water-holding polymer to all pots and planters.

Since water flows quickly through a hanging basket, it continuously leaches nutrients from the soil. Plant food needs to be replaced throughout the season for continued growth and flower production. Every couple of weeks, mix a light solution of liquid fertilizer in with the water. If your plant’s soil should ever become completely dry, first water the plants well before adding fertilizer. Remember, no dessert until you’ve had your dinner!

Just when you thought you had them under control, the weeds are back. Actually, they never really went away. I’m always amazed at the disguise weeds put on to grow amid our favorite garden plants. Plantain lily sneaks in amid the similar leaves of black-eyed Susan. Shepherdspurse, with its arrow-shaped leaves, hides perfectly in a tangle of scabiosa foliage. As I have mentioned before, even the names of the weeds sound like tricky little devils: fivehook, nimbleweed, petty spurge, fleabane and switchgrass.

It’s often our job and our job alone to weed intricate flower borders. As the gardener in residence, we are most likely to know what new growth is friend or foe. Unless your significant other gardens by your side, it’s unlikely anyone else will know exactly what’s in all those flower borders. I personally think that this is a sign of a dedicated gardener. It’s this attention to detail that makes a garden uniquely our own.

Newly planted nasturtiums are emerging in one of my flower beds. Anyone who sows nasturtiums annually will recognize their distinctly upright, round juvenile leaves. What a shame it would be if someone mistook these seedlings for weeds. I like to plant nasturtiums late, to fill the upcoming gap between summer and fall. Their flowers add a bolt of energy to the garden with bright, golden-hued yellows, reds and oranges when the last of the spring flower show has died away.

How odd that these long summer days, with daylight lasting beyond 9:30 p.m., can pass so quickly. It makes me wonder how I get anything done in winter when it grows dark before 5 in the afternoon. But no, there is too much to do and too many wonderful surprises yet to come to think about anything but summer.

Last night, as the sun set, I smelled the heavy scent of Nicotiana in the air. This evening, I’ll take a casual stroll and do nothing but enjoy the garden.

Robb Rosser is a WSU-certified master gardener. Reach him at Write2Robb@aol.com

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