Lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers need adequate water to thrive, and the summer months are the time to be especially aware of your landscape’s watering needs. Remember that how often plants need to be watered is closely related to how deep their roots are.
YOUR LAWN
During the hotter summer months, your lawn needs from 1″ to 1.5″ of water per week, either by rainfall or sprinkling. Soaking your soil to a depth of 6″ each time you water will help your turf’s roots to grow deeper and stronger. Try to avoid frequent, shallow sprinklings, which can create shallow roots that dry out more quickly.
YOUR TREES AND SHRUBS
If rainfall is scarce, your trees and shrubs will also benefit from weekly watering. Since their roots are much deeper than your lawn’s roots, be sure to soak each area thoroughly. As with turf, water less often but deeply. On average, your trees and shrubs need to be watered three times as long as your grass. Pay special attention to recently planted trees and shrubs. They need extra water to support top growth while their roots get fully established.
YOUR FLOWERS
Providing too much or too little water (especially when hot summer weather arrives) can result in less-than-satisfactory blooms. Annuals have shallow roots, so they dry out more quickly. Keep the soil moist but not too soggy. Perennials need less water, since they have deeper roots. Don’t worry if the soil dries out a bit between waterings.
If at all possible, watering should be done in the early morning, when temperatures are lower (to help prevent water loss from evaporation). An automatic irrigation system may be worth looking into if you have an especially large lawn or lots of plants spread out over a large area. Not only will it save you time and effort, but you’ll also have peace of mind, knowing that your plants are always getting the right amount of water at the right times!
