While human beings have their ways of surviving summer heat, survival can be more difficult for your lawn and garden.
Certain grasses and plants thrive in hot weather, but when it's too hot even those grasses and plants can suffer. The following are a few basic watering techniques to help homeowners keep their lawns going strong through the summer.
Water when it's coolest. Watering when the temperature is cooler decreases evaporation, so your lawn will get the water it needs and won't lose any to steamy conditions that cause evaporation. This is especially important when the amount of water you can use is limited by a drought restriction.
You'll want to make sure the water you can use is actually going to the lawn and not evaporating as you're watering.
Watering in the early morning or in the evening when the sun is not as strong and the temperatures are generally at their coolest also reduces the likelihood that your grass will burn. That's because water attracts the sun, and a lawn that's wet in the middle of a hot day might attract too much sun and cause the lawn to burn.
Recognize that not all plants are the same. How much water a plant needs and how frequently it needs to be watered largely depends on how deep its roots are.
A plant with shallow roots won't need to be watered for long periods of time, but it will need to be watered frequently, whereas a deep-rooted plant like a tree or a shrub, will need to be watered for long periods of time but not as frequently.
Research the plants around your property to determine the depths of their root systems and water accordingly.
Lean on mulch to retain moisture. Mulch retains moisture during hot summer months, reducing the need to water. Mulch also makes it difficult for weeds to grow, which can keep homeowners from spending hot summer afternoons pulling weeds out of their gardens and flower beds.
Strategically locate sprinklers. Sprinklers should be located so no water is ending up on the driveway or sidewalks around your property. Watering the concrete or asphalt is wasteful, and that's water that could be going toward your plants.
When watering by hand, be sure all of the water is finding its way to plants and not on any walkways.
Successfully watering a lawn and garden during the dog days of summer can greatly reduce the risk of ending summer with a lawn full of bald spots and a garden filled with wilted plants.
