Best watering practices for your garden

Question: Dear Master Gardeners, can you give me some better water practices for my garden and container plants before the hot summer months come?

Answer: Water is a resource we really cannot afford to waste, adopting better water conservation helps every living being survive. To begin, consider investing or making your own rainwater collection system. There is a plethora of ideas out there on water collection. Be mindful of collecting rainwater that has fallen over a shingled roof. According to Phil Haar, East Tennessee Plant Nursery Specialist, says that water that comes from asphalt roofs can alter the chemical composition of the water by them being petroleum based along with heavy metals. Cheaper shingles are worse due to the level of degradation and leaching into water.

Here are some of our tips for smarter water conservation for your gardening this summer. 1) Water your plants in the morning hours between the hours of 5 am to 10 am if possible. This is when the sun is at its weakest and the ground is at its coolest. Watering in the evening will attract insects and allow fungus and disease to develop. 2) When you water, do it deeply and at fewer intervals. This allows water to reach the root systems to promote healthier plants. If possible, soak the soil 5 to 6 inches in depth in the ground and at least 2 to 4 inches in your containers depending on size of container. 3) Watering at the base of your plants is the most efficient way to conserve water. Soaker hoses are an excellent choice for this application for garden and container plants. For lawns use a sprinkler with the fixture head close to the ground. It takes approximately 90 minutes to cover an area of lawn. A water gauge is helpful when watering lawns thoroughly. If you don’t have one, an empty tuna fish can, will work when it’s set out at the furthest point of water projection, and it gets full then that area is watered thoroughly. Using a sprinkler that sprays large amount of water into the air are not efficient since most of the water will evaporate before hitting the ground. Pick days with little to no wind as well for more effectiveness. 4) Trees and shrubs need ample water as well when the summer heat comes, especially newly planted ones. Water them directly every 7 to 10 days. 5) For your annuals and perennials it’s better to use a watering wand that gently soaks the plants at the roots. By using a hose and nozzle type watering system tends to cast a wider spray that wets mostly foliage and does not reach roots where water is needed most. 6) For your container plants, water them at least once a day. If your finger is dry when you stick it in your container up to your second knuckle and it is dry, then it’s time to water. 7) Mulch, Mulch, Mulch, is one of water’s best friends! By mulching your garden beds, vegetable gardens and even your containers will conserve the amount of water you use and the amount of water that is lost. Mulch helps to retain moisture, cools the soil, and also deters weeds which can take up precious water.

Thank you for your question and Happy Gardening!

Send questions to rheacomg@gmail.com or write to Rhea County Extension Office, c/o Master Gardeners, 125 Court Street, Suite 3, Dayton, TN, 37321.