In these glorious summer months, many of us are itching to get out and play in the water, hike local trails or picnic with family. Trying to maintain your landscape and have fun in the sun can feel overwhelming. When your weeks are full, focusing on the essentials of a thriving landscape will lessen the chance of any future problems while also allowing you to enjoy your backyard.
Watering your plants consistently will go a long way toward maintaining the health of your plants. Most plants, shrubs and trees need some water during the hottest summer days. If you can, water early in the day to keep your plants from getting stressed by the heat.
As far as how much to water, a general rule of thumb is an inch of water each week. But that can vary a bit. New plantings will need that weekly inch of water delivered over frequent waterings, as their roots are not fully developed, while more mature trees and shrubs can have one long drink of water each week.
To conserve water and make the best use of your time, make sure to water at ground level. Sprinklers are great in a pinch, but some of that water will evaporate into the air instead of going to your plant’s roots. Mulching your garden and landscape beds will conserve water and it will also save you time by preventing evaporation and suppressing weed growth. Your soil staying moist longer and fewer weeds growing in your landscape means more play time for you and your family.
