Just a quick note to say that we are seeing a drop in rainfall totals. We had normal or above normal rain levelsfor July, but most of August was a little on the dry side.
If you dont have irrigation, a few of your plants may be getting thirsty.
Any perennials,shrubs, trees new in the ground less than a year need TLC.
Many established plants will be fine, especially hostas, coneflowers, many sunlovers. But keep your roses watered regularly, your astilbes, your vegetable gardens, dogwood trees, rhododendrons, and again, any new plantings which are still trying to establish mature root systems.
Our temperatures are great and we human types are probably really enjoying the fall-like weather. Thank goodness we are not having extreme heat typical of August. Don't forget your plants in pots too, give them a drink on your way outside.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Summer Watering
August 1, halfway through Summer!
As of the end of July the Nashville area has had three months in a row of above-average rainfall. A healthy amount of rain for our landscape plants is usually an inch a week average. In July we received a total of 6 inches.
There are no drought reports for middle Tennessee. At this time in 2007 we were in a severe drought and in 2008 a moderate drought. What a great summer!
After all this nice weather don't be too concerned if we get some hot dry days...it is August after all. Remember that you can over water to the detriment of plants. Too much moisture can set up environments for root rot, and diseases. Most plants want a good drink and then a day or two of drying out.
So here we go with some basics on watering your landscape plants:
Let's start by saying that each species has particular culture requirements so it is best to know your plants and what they want. An example is that Astilbes (a shade lover) don't like to dry out, they like steady moisture. But your geranium, as much as it loves water, wants to dry out well between drinking binges.Hostas can actually handle a lot of dry weather, most roses want a drink several times a week. Even well-established Dogwood trees may want supplemental watering in hot dry weather.
All things being equal, appropriate watering is a LONG SLOW watering, less frequently. For example, water 2-3 times a week at barely a trickle for long periods (yes, maybe hours, you have to experiment to see what works in your situation) . This allows the water to seep in slowly, reach the deeper roots and soil levels, trains the roots to seek water deeper, not shallower, establish stronger root systems. DON'T water daily for a few minutes with the sprinkler. Daily light watering is wasteful and can be detrimental.
Containers...can need more watering than plants in the ground. They dry out more quickly, especially in terra cotta or clay.
August 1 is officially mid-Summer, halfway between Spring and Fall Equinoxes. There seems to have been a blend of Christian and pagan celebrations in earlier days in Europe, marking the first successful summer harvests and the assurance of having some grain to put up for the winter. I am certainly grateful for the bounty of flowers, tomatoes, cucumber and other garden goodies received of late. At any rate I hope to squeeze a lot more fun and enjoyment out of the rest of summer.
As of the end of July the Nashville area has had three months in a row of above-average rainfall. A healthy amount of rain for our landscape plants is usually an inch a week average. In July we received a total of 6 inches.
There are no drought reports for middle Tennessee. At this time in 2007 we were in a severe drought and in 2008 a moderate drought. What a great summer!
After all this nice weather don't be too concerned if we get some hot dry days...it is August after all. Remember that you can over water to the detriment of plants. Too much moisture can set up environments for root rot, and diseases. Most plants want a good drink and then a day or two of drying out.
So here we go with some basics on watering your landscape plants:
Let's start by saying that each species has particular culture requirements so it is best to know your plants and what they want. An example is that Astilbes (a shade lover) don't like to dry out, they like steady moisture. But your geranium, as much as it loves water, wants to dry out well between drinking binges.Hostas can actually handle a lot of dry weather, most roses want a drink several times a week. Even well-established Dogwood trees may want supplemental watering in hot dry weather.
All things being equal, appropriate watering is a LONG SLOW watering, less frequently. For example, water 2-3 times a week at barely a trickle for long periods (yes, maybe hours, you have to experiment to see what works in your situation) . This allows the water to seep in slowly, reach the deeper roots and soil levels, trains the roots to seek water deeper, not shallower, establish stronger root systems. DON'T water daily for a few minutes with the sprinkler. Daily light watering is wasteful and can be detrimental.
Containers...can need more watering than plants in the ground. They dry out more quickly, especially in terra cotta or clay.
August 1 is officially mid-Summer, halfway between Spring and Fall Equinoxes. There seems to have been a blend of Christian and pagan celebrations in earlier days in Europe, marking the first successful summer harvests and the assurance of having some grain to put up for the winter. I am certainly grateful for the bounty of flowers, tomatoes, cucumber and other garden goodies received of late. At any rate I hope to squeeze a lot more fun and enjoyment out of the rest of summer.
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