Kathy Berryhill
Creek County Master Gardener
Summer weather has made it to Green Country! And thanks to a rainy spring and last week’s rain deluge, our plants are entering into this season very well-watered. Mesonet.org reports that our plants have 100% of the soil moisture they need available to them. This percentage will begin to drop, though, as the heat arrives. The 10-day forecast shows that we are going to get sunshine that will encourage beautiful growth and colorful flowers. However, we have all seen the rains dry up as the temperature rises. So now is a good time to review water needs for our landscapes.
What’s the best way to determine if plants really need water? I rely on a combination of sight and touch. What looks to others to be a casual stroll through my yard, is in reality a fact gathering mission. A gardener’s eye can detect the slightest drooping of a leaf and know that water is needed. Then using the handiest of garden tools, your finger, a quick probe of the soil verifies dry soil. If the surface looks dry, check a few inches deeper. If it is dry several inches down, it definitely needs water! Gardeners can also purchase soil meters until they can rely on these methods.
The best time to water is early in the day. Water applied in the mornings enables the moisture to soak into the soil prior to evaporation from heat and wind. Watering can be done in the late afternoon, but if any moisture remains on a plant overnight, fungal disease can set in. It is important to direct water at the roots, and not the leaves, for this reason. While it can be satisfying to stand, hose in hand, and blast the garden, this method actually delivers very little water and doesn’t soak the entire root ball. The Golden Rule for watering is “more water, delivered less often.” A watering wand, drip irrigation, or soaker hose directs water right to the root zone. Deep watering encourages deeper roots which are able to supply moisture as the upper soil dries out.
This is a good time to install a DIY drip irrigation system. Components for a drip irrigation system can be bought for a small investment and produce a huge payoff. Water is delivered directly to your plants’ root ball and avoids splashing moisture on the leaves. With the use of a battery-operated timer, water is efficiently delivered on a regular schedule. This method saves a tremendous amount of time for the gardener and reduces water usage.
Would you like to see a DIY Drip Irrigation System in use? Attend the Creek County Master Gardeners Garden Tour on Saturday, June 19th! Two of the yards on the tour have DIY installations that water a large amount of garden area, foundation plantings, and planted pots. (Instructions for the DIY Drip Irrigation will be available). Addresses include 129 W Cleveland, 1601 E Dewey Ave, 1415 E Lincoln, and 1717 Valley Road. Hours are 8AM-2PM and $5 tickets are available for purchase at any address.
Plants that are kept evenly moist do much better than those that are allowed to dry out. Consistent moisture contributes to the health of the plant and this aids in a plant fighting off disease and insects. Container plants are more susceptible to quicker water evaporation. While a larger container pot will hold moisture longer than a small container, it may contain bigger plants that require more water. Drip irrigation systems can be adjusted to fit the needs of each pot.
Lastly, consider adding an RV water filter to your faucet. RV water filters can be purchased online and are simple to install. While the filtered water is not quite rain water, it does greatly reduce the added chemicals that are found in city water.
Happy Gardening!!
