Don't let the rains fool you!

It seems like we may be at the tail end of a summer heatwave. Hopefully. But it is still very early in the season so we have a lot of heat in our immediate future. We have also have had more rain than usual, which has advantages, such as lush plant growth, as well as disadvantages, like increases in certain plant diseases in the form of various mildews and fungi. But one of the downsides to getting so much rain is that it lulls people into a false sense of security when it comes to watering. 

It is unusual, this time of year, to receive several inches of rain over an extended amount of time, like we did last Friday. Usually, we get short, intense bursts of rain that don’t really soak into the soil to any great extent, since it runs off quickly. But people assume that Mother Nature has taken over watering duties for days after a good rain when, in fact, things dry out MUCH faster than anticipated. That’s why it is so important to check the soil frequently in the days after a rain. You’d be surprised how fast this heat draws the moisture out of the ground. Plus, don’t forget that the rains tend to matt down mulches and form crusts on exposed soils, so loosen everything up using garden rakes or hoes to ensure that water can penetrate the surface.

Don’t ignore your trees and shrubs, either. Most people give particular attention to annuals and perennials, forgetting that the big guys can suffer from a lack of water, too. Granted, with their deeper roots, trees can take advantage of water deep in the ground that can’t be reached by small plants, but even those water sources disappear after an extended drought. And, although the sprinkler is a great tool for watering lawns and gardens, it is not particularly effective when watering trees. What you’ll want to do to water the trees is lay a hose on the ground under the tree and run it at a slow, even pace to allow water to soak into the ground without running off. Better yet, check out our selection of Treegators, large bags that wrap around the base of smaller trees that drips between 15 and 18 gallons of water into the ground over a period of several hours. Just fill up the bag and walk away!

If you have container gardens or hanging baskets, it doesn’t matter how much rain they get. All it takes is a few hours in the sun to dry them out completely, so monitor them very carefully. Soak them thoroughly until you see water flowing out the bottom. Just to be sure, lift them up a bit. If they are heavy, they are watered. Remember that fertilizing is very important when it comes to container gardens and hanging baskets, because heavy rains and watering, in general, quickly wash nutrients out of the soil; and this happens much faster than it does in the landscape. So make sure that you fertilize container gardens every few weeks with a slow-release fertilizer and give them a shot of liquid fertilizer every week.