As the summer’s deadliest heatwave continues to strangle the country, many New York and New Jersey residents are coming home from work to wilting inpatients, sun bleached hostas, fried fescue and drooping dianthis. While the lush green days of May and June have passed and summer’s heat is destroying many mid season blooms, there are still a few watering habits that will allow your yard to survive and perhaps even thrive throughout the season’s more vicious days.
1. Water in the mornings– Watering before noon is a key technique that will better your chances of hydrating your plants. When watering during the mid day sun, the water won’t absorb as deeply into the soil because a good amount of it will evaporate off the hot ground. (On extremely hot days, you can see the steam rising off the ground after watering). By watering during early morning hours, water will not only have a better chance of absorbing into the soil, but the otherwise detrimental mid day sun will dry the plant, in turn reducing the risk of damaging molds which wet plants are susceptible to. If it’s impossible to water during the mornings, the late afternoon or evening is your second best bet; however, leaving plants wet overnight can accelerate the growth of certain molds.
2. It’s better to not water at all than to water just a little– If you only have time to spritz the soil it’s best not to bother. Watering too little is not only an ineffective watering technique, it can also worsen the situation. Because the roots of dehydrated plants are in such need of water, they will grow toward the surface if that’s where the water lies. Once roots are growing toward the surface of the ground or toward the top of the pot, they will not only be shallow, but they’ll dry out easier because they’re closer to the surface.
3. What about my crispy lawn?– It’s hard to maintain the fresh green grass of spring during the summer months of July and August. As stated in the first tip, it’s important to water your lawn in the early morning hours as afternoon watering is ineffective and environmentally wasteful. Most lawns require about an inch of water per week; however, in these hotter months, 2 inches is more realistic for a green lawn. Oscillating sprinklers are ideal for most lawns, although stationary sprinklers or sprinkler systems are the best choice for smaller lawns. One technique that will help with watering is not to bag the grass clippings when mowing the lawn. By setting your blade higher and leaving the bag off the mower, you’ll leave a protective layer of dead grass which will reduce burnt grass issues. If the lawn has become too damaged by the sun, it’s best to not bother seeding until the fall. Also, the widely sold fescue seed should avoid being planted in sunnier areas.
4. Water before it rains– Summer storms can be so unpredictable, so don’t avoid watering just because the forecast predicts a 50% chance of rain. In fact, even if it looks like it’s going to rain, it’s sometimes not a bad idea to water beforehand so that the soil is moistened and has a better ability to absorb water when the skies do open up.
5. Mulch: a catch 22- Mulched garden space has plenty of advantages. In addition to the aesthetic quality of mulch, it provides several nutrients to the soil, diminishes weed growth and helps retain moisture; however, it also prevents water from permeating the soil as easily as non mulched spaces. While the positive aspects of mulch outweigh the negatives, be sure to water mulched areas thoroughly so that water is properly absorbed into the soil.