I know that many of you have heard me talk about watering over and over; however watering wisely is one of the most important things you can do for your plants to ensure healthy, beautiful gardens. It is always a major topic of discussion primarily because it requires more thought than many of us realize. As the temperatures rise over the summer it becomes even more crucial to monitor your watering and make sure you’re watering wisely.
Watering should never be considered a mindless task. We’re all guilty of wanting to put watering on a timer or scheduled for our own convenience. This can often lead to unhappy and unhealthy plants because we’re no longer paying attention to what the plant really needs. The first step is to look at the plant before you water it and think to yourself “do you really look like you want this?” Often times plants are overwatered vs. under watered. When it gets hot a very common mistake many of us make is watering everything every day and sometimes twice a day, just because we think it surely must need it. Check the soil and see if it’s moist. If it is and the plant looks happy then leave it alone. Don’t water just because you assume the plant needs it- I usually let mine dry out until they just start to wilt, then I water them the following morning. Plants need to dry out. It helps them to develop healthy, big roots so that they can continue to thrive in the summer heat. When they do need water make sure to water them thoroughly. If you only water a little every day all the plant will do is develop a shallow, unhealthy root system vs. a nice deep, healthy one.
