In this week of Cincinnati Gardening Made Simple, we address that it is HOT! and share some important summer watering tips to keep your plants looking great.

Summer Watering Plant Tips

During the heat, you need to make sure to check your plants often.

• Always check your plants each time before you water them.
• Physically and visually check to make sure water is needed by pulling the mulch aside to look at the soil and feel to check the moisture levels of both the root ball and soil.
• Wilted leaves don’t always indicate the plant is too dry.  Same symptoms for both too wet or too dry, so always physically check first.
• Smaller root balls and container-grown plants require more frequent watering.
• In the summer, annuals, hanging baskets, potted plants, and groundcover may require daily or every other day watering. A solution is to use water-grabbing polymers like Soil Moist, a product that is added to the soil to reduce watering needs. For more information on watering containers, Click Here.
• Do not overwater your plants. You will not overwater with a one-time soaking. You overwater when you water too often, and the soils stay consistently wet causing the roots not to breathe and root rot sets in.  Let your plants dry a bit between waterings to allow the soil and roots to breathe.  SOAK, let them get close to dry. SOAK, is generally the best practice when watering.

WHY ARE YOUR PLANTS GETTING TOO DRY?

• Don’t ever assume showers and thunderstorms have thoroughly watered your plants. It helps to use a rain gauge.
• It takes several years for plants to become established. During droughts and dry spells, you will need additional watering.
• If your plant is growing next to or under a large tree, it will dry out quicker based on competition for soil moisture.

Have a garden question? Ask our experts @ questions@natorp.com.