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. Set watering priorities -- You may not be able to water everything, so set priorities to water the plants most vulnerable. Generally those plants, trees and shrubs that you put in the ground this spring should be first on the list. Trees and shrubs that have been established for several years should be OK without supplemental water unless the dry spell extends for several months. Lawns with established cool weather grasses, such a blue grass and fescue, will go dormant in the dryness and heat and lose their lush green color, but will not die. If you choose not to water your lawn the green will return with rain and cooler weather. Water slowly and deeply -- A common mistake made by gardeners is to water just the surface of the soil with a quick pass of the sprinkling can. This may actually harm the plant by encouraging root growth near the surface where roots can quickly dry out. After watering, dig down a few inches to make sure that your water is reaching the deeper roots and encouraging deep root development. It's better to water deeply once or twice a week than shallowly everyday. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation can help you accomplish this without having to stand for hours with a hose or sprinkling can. Water in late afternoon or early evening -- Recent studies have shown that plants respond best to watering during the late afternoon or early evening when their need for water is the greatest. But don't water too late in the evening. Plant leaves should have a chance to dry before nightfall to reduce the chances of fungus or mildew diseases. Don't waste water -- Direct sprinklers carefully so that you are watering only the plants intended and not the street, the driveway and sidewalk. Soaker hoses, mini-sprinklers and drip irrigation are excellent ways to keep your plants watered very efficiently with little waste. Water is a precious resource and all the more so during dry conditions. Use it wisely! WaterWise Gardening - The Basics
Soil preparation and mulch are essential in a water wise garden.
A good mulch has many advantages, including;
In a water wise garden the method used to deliver water to plants is very important. You want your plants to get the most benefit from the amount of water that is used. Conventional sprinklers deliver large amounts of water to large areas and can be extremely wasteful if not positioned thoughtfully. Inline drippers, weeping hoses and drip tubes are designed for placing under mulch. These are low pressure watering systems which, over a period of several hours, deliver water directly to the plant’s roots. Inline drippers are also suitable for lawns. Grouping plants with similar water requirements will prevent over and under watering. Computerized watering systems allow for the delivery of a set amount of water at specified times, to various sections of the garden. Tap timers are a useful and cheap alternative. Using phosphate and petrochemical free, biodegradable laundry powders allows you to safely reuse the laundry water on the garden. There are 100s of water wise plants. You can select
from Australian Natives or Exotic Plants that come from areas of the
world with Mediterranean climate conditions (these are areas that experience
hot, dry summers with the majority of rain falling in winter). A Selection of Top Summer WaterWise Performers With a bit of planning and some basic knowledge you
too can have a WaterWise garden. The Virginia Green Industry Council is the voice of the horticulture industry in the Commonwealth and is dedicated to enhancing the beauty of the state’s environment, the well-being of our citizens, improving our state’s economy, and improving the health and wellness for everyone in Virginia. The Council is made up of providers and consumers of horticultural products and services. The Council works to provide public and industry education, environmental guidelines and other information that will keep Virginia green and growing. For more information, visit
www.virginiagreen.org. E-mail:info@virginiagreen.org Virginia Green Industry Council |
