Call it human nature or blame it
on priorities. Once the dog days of summer
arrive in July and August, watering plants isn't
at the top of most people's list.
Earlier in the year it was like spring fever --
everyone was swept over by the fever to plant,
seed and improve the home landscape. But by
July, most people are much more interested in a
cold beverage and their vacation spot.
Lawns, trees and shrubs suffer during the dog
days without close attention to watering. While
hanging baskets of annuals and flowers in
containers may require daily watering, trees and
shrubs are slightly less demanding.
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|
Plants
under roof overhangs suffer
perpetual drought and perish without
frequent watering |
Here in Pennsylvania, one
thorough weekly watering is usually enough to
guarantee plant health. In the case of newly
planted trees and shrubs, it will also be enough
to keep them alive. Watering is that important.
The majority of nurseries, landscapers and
garden centers guarantee most of their plants
for 1-year, but lack of water is enough to void
most plant warranties. The other big reason to
water regularly is to promote healthy growth in
new plantings, so their full beauty can be
appreciated next year.
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|
Only
weeds remain green on lawns
suffering from severe drought stress |
The rule of thumb in
Pennsylvania is to water thoroughly if we
receive less than 1-inch of rain per week.
Weekly watering should consist of water that is
applied slowly, allowing ample time for it to
soak into the ground. When watering several
plants, this can be done by watering each one,
then repeating the process several times over.
Happy watering --
your trees and shrubs will show their
appreciation next year!
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|
Spring's
rewards! |
