This week, an important reminder.
Almost all of your new plantings need to be watered more in August.
Unless we’re talking about a true xeriscaping plant, like yucca, agave, or similar, most new plantings will need additional water this time of year. Please do not rely on your sprinkler system to get the entire job done! It’s rare that a sprinkler setup, however elaborate, will do a perfect job. Please give your new plantings extra attention until the weather begins to break sometime in mid-September.
Other water conserving (and plant and labor conserving!) tips:
- Make sure the mulch in your flowerbeds and around new plantings in the lawn hasn’t broken down too much. One to two inches of mulch is as good as one to two extra waterings per week. Your plants will stress less. You’ll still need to water more, but it will be quite a bit easier.
- 6AM to 11AM is your friend! Water early in the morning when possible. Your plants will appreciate being hydrated before the day’s heat really kicks in, and it’s a lot more comfortable to work outside at that time of the day anyways!
- Wrap tender young bark on trees. Keeping the summer sun from baking the lower trunk of new trees can head off trouble before it starts.