From wet to dry.

Last year-- Mild and moist. We had rain throughout the summer with mild more comfortable temperatures. This time last year I was complaining about the amount of rain and how it was slowing work down.

This year-- HOT AND DRY! So far this year has been nothing short of a complete opposite to last year. The winter season of 09 -10 saw the most snowfall on record for the Philadelphia area. The snow was on top of already moist soils creating saturated conditions for the late winter early spring when we had storms strong enough to blow down a lot of trees.

When spring finally came to an end the water faucet that was open since last year finally closed. High temperatures have followed with a number of days above ninety in the month of June. While I write this article the sky's are blue and the temperature is in the mid 80's, it is absolutely beautiful outside. I am told it wont last, the heat and the humidity are scheduled to return with a vengeance for next week.

This is not the doom and gloom weather forecast as much as a friendly reminder that you will need to think about getting the hose out and watering your plants. Watering, if at all possible, should begin before your landscape starts to show the signs of stress, such as wilting leaves or browning and dried up leaves.




The best way to water established plants is slowly for a long duration to make sure the water works its way down into the soil. Water an area for up to an hour once a week or so to make sure the soil is sufficiently moist. Watering for short periods of time more frequently will encourage shallow rooting. We want the roots of our plants to grow as deep as they are intended to to look for water and help anchor the plant.

In addition to watering this would be a great year to consider a second mulching, or mulching for the first time this season if you had decided to put it off this year, if there does not seem to be a sufficient amount to help keep the soil protected from the suns rays and the drying winds. Mulch will also help to insulate the soil from the vast fluctuations between day and night temperatures.



For newly planted gardens there is a much more critical need for water. During the hot dry days of July and August you may need to water some plants daily and others every other day. This, of course, will depend on the temperatures, wind, sun exposure, and rainfall. Drought tolerance does not play a role until the plant is established. Don't think that buying and planting a drought tolerant plant means that you don't need to water it. All new plantings go through a establishment period where they must be watered.

Keep your hoses ready and remember it is better to water in the morning before it gets too hot. Try to avoid watering at night if the plants will not have a chance to dry before the sun goes down. Hot, humid weather with moisture on the plants is an ideal situation for diseases to develop.