Summer planting season can be one of the most challenging times of the year for maintaining lawns and growing plants. As the summer temperatures rise, the soil and plants begin to dry out more quickly. Outside of Chicago, some communities and cities impose restriction on water which places the lawns and plant hydration in a difficult state.
If the dry, hot weather lasts too long, the flowers, plants, gardens and trees could be severely and irreparably damaged. Therefore, it is essential to use precaution and implement smart watering measures in order to keep your plants and lawn alive.
THE PLANTS AT RISK THIS SEASON
Of all the plants that are being affected by this season, there are some which are more highly affected, resulting in severe damage (especially if they are left unattended in a drought). You should determine the plants that are at the high risk and place them at the top of your maintenance priority list. Some plants typically at risk are as follows: newly planted shrubs and trees, newly planted perennials, flower beds, as well as any exhibiting dehydration symptoms.
Evaluate your plants and lawn in order to search for any signs of dehydration. It is vital to provide immediate watering to any plants in need. Wilting, yellowing of the leaves and browning of the leaf edges are some of the most common signs of plant dehydration.
Consistent watering is the best thing you can do for your plants and lawn to keep them alive. Here are the watering tips that can help you maximize your watering efficiency during the summer season:
- Understand your community`s restriction on water. Due to water shortages, different communities and cities have imposed restrictions. Even though this may be hard for your plants and lawn to endure, it is better if you follow the restrictions in order to avoid costly problems. First you need to understand the specifics of your water restrictions; for example, you need to understand how frequently every day/week you will be allowed to water your plants.
- Although you may water your plants at any time of the day, it will be more efficient to water very early in the morning. This will help you to avoid water evaporation when sprinkling your plants in the summer season.
- The watering of the plants and lawns during the evening will also work well; however, it can promote the development of plant diseases.
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
Looking for an easier way to maintain your gardens? Irrigation systems may provide the solution.
Roof deck gardens, during the very hots days, will need water sometimes twice a day as the water seeps through the planters and dries out quickly. Irrigation systems give even distribution of water, much more accurately than watering by hand or using a sprinkler.
There are several types of emitters that can irrigate very small to very large areas, even individual flower containers. Additionally, zones can be established for specialized watering. Each zone can have it’s own amount of watering time and can also have the ability for instance, to water several times a day at one zone and only every other day for the rest of the zones. Additionally, these systems can reduce the amount of water to once a month depending on the needs of specific plants. Rain sensors can be added to evaluate the plants watering needs each day.
