Things You'll Need:
- Soil core sampler
- Spade
- Watering can
- Soaker hose or open-ended hose
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Step 1
Check the soil in every plant. Make daily morning rounds of potted plants and those planted in the garden each day during a heat wave.Lift potted plants to judge water content. If you use clay pots, the outside of the pot will look wet if the soil is still moist. Dry soil causes pots to be lighter than moist or wet soil. The more you perform this daily duty, the more you will gain a sense of the heft of your plants. For gardens, the Innovative Gardener suggests using a soil core sampler, or just dig into soil near plants with a spade between 6-and-12 inches deep. If the soil is dry, it's time to water.
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Step 2
Use water wisely. Water plant roots. Watering leaves is a waste of water. Some plant leaves are prone to fungal diseases and should not get wet. Mix mulch into the soil. Mulch reduces evaporation and promotes even water absorption. Cover the top of soil with pine needles or another ground cover to prevent evaporation.
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Step 3
Water sufficiently, but not too often. Too little water creates a hostile soil environment. Too much water can damage plants as well. Avoid water-logging roots, which can cause fungus to develop. The rule of thumb is that it is better to allow plants to dry out than to over water them.
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Step 4
Water in the morning before the sun's scorching heat increases, evaporating surface moisture and searing soil and roots as moisture heats. Water deeply enough to reach roots. Lawn roots are closer to the surface than those of trees and shrubbery. Provide ample time for water to penetrate to roots.
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Step 5
Water with hoses or sprinkling systems, which supply water efficiently. Water soil directly. Do not use sprinklers that spray into the air. The water evaporates and what reaches the ground does not penetrate deeply enough. The Innovative Gardener recommends using half-water pressure through an open-ended or a soaker hose.
