5 Tips for Watering Your Plants This Summer

It's officially summer here in Georgia. Temperatures have reached the 90s, and both my hydrangeas and Flower Carpet roses have started blooming.

Clockwise from top: Hydrangea (variety unknown), 'Flower Carpet
Pink Supreme' rose, oakleaf hydrangea, and 'Twist n' Shout' hydrangea

The summer heat means it's time to turn our attention to watering. Lack of water (or sometimes too much water) is one of the leading causes of plant death. I've killed more plants than I can count simply because I went out of town for a long weekend in July, left my plants out on the balcony, and didn't get a plant sitter. (Fortunately I have two excellent plant sitters now, so my garden is in safe hands when I travel.)

Here are some tips for properly watering your garden this summer:

1. Water your flowers and and herbs after the top inch of soil has dried out. Just stick your finger in the soil to determine if it needs to be watered. Of course, some plants (like impatiens) like more water and others (like verbena) like less, so it always helps to know the specific needs of your plant.

2. If you can, water early in the morning. This practice has a couple of benefits. For one, you reduce plant diseases. If you water late in the day, water on the leaves doesn't have time to evaporate and just sits overnight. Wet leaves are the perfect breeding ground for fungus. Secondly, if you're using a sprinkler, you waste less water. If you water in the heat of the afternoon, much of the water evaporates before it reaches your plants.

3. Don't let your vegetable plants dry out. Lettuce, radishes, bell peppers, beans...they all like constant moisture for the best harvest. Hot peppers are one exception--they like to dry out between waterings. Be careful with overwatering your carrots and tomatoes as it gets closer to harvest--a sudden influx of water will cause the carrot or tomato fruit to split.

4. Give your lawn an inch of water a week. Some weeks they may get this from rainfall, other weeks you'll need to put a sprinkler out. You can get a container like a soup can and mark one inch from the bottom with a permanent marker to make a cheap rain gauge. Leave it outside, and if rain hasn't filled your can to the line by the weekend, water your lawn until it does reach the one-inch mark.

5. If you planted any trees or shrubs this spring, they also need an inch of water per week. Make sure they get regular water through the hot summer and into fall. Established trees and shrubs will benefit from extra watering during a drought, but otherwise can be left alone.

Happy gardening! What's blooming in your garden this month?