Flowers aren’t the only plants struggling as temperatures climb. During a heat wave, some of the shrubs along your foundation and in your flower beds could use a drink too. Young or newly planted shrubs as well as any growing in containers on your porch will need extra attention to avoid heat stress. Those shrubs you planted 10 years ago can handle longer periods without rain, but they still need extra watering to get through dry spells. Here’s how often to water your shrubs during a heat wave to keep them from withering.
How Often To Water Shrubs In Hot Weather
It’s important to keep a vegetable garden and flowerpots watered during a heat wave, but don’t neglect your shrubs. Like other plants, shrubs need regular watering as temperatures skyrocket. A heat wave can cause moisture loss that leads to wilting and leaf drop, as well as heat stress caused by warm soil, so watering is important.
It is possible to overwater shrubs during a heat wave, so don’t reach for the garden hose just because you think your plants look like they could use a drink. It’s tempting to give them a little extra water when temperatures are extreme, but plants that are watered deeply don’t need frequent showers.
Advertisement
Advertisement
During a heat wave, aim to water established shrubs once or twice a week to give them 1 inch of water. You may need to increase how often you water during extended, extreme heat spells. New shrubs that were just planted may need watering every few days or even every day, while those that are in their first two years should be watered weekly or when the top 6 inches of soil are dry.
When To Water Shrubs
If a heat wave is in the forecast, ideally you should water before temperatures climb to keep the soil cool and create a reserve of moisture for plants before they need it. As with other plants in your yard, watering during the morning is best. Aim to get it done before 10 a.m. Any later and the sun’s intense heat will cause water to evaporate quickly before it can reach the plant’s roots.
How To Tell When Shrubs Need Watering
Quickly spraying your shrubs with a garden hose isn’t the most efficient way to water them. It moistens the top layer of soil and encourages shallow roots that look for moisture near the surface where temperatures are warm. Roots near the surface have a greater risk of drying out. Watering deeply encourages a deeper root zone in cooler soil. When watering, you’ll want to make sure the top 3 to 4 inches of soil are moist. And watering too often, even during a dry spell, can lead to root rot associated with overwatering.
To determine whether your shrubs need watering, check the soil. To do this, push a trowel or screwdriver 3 to 6 inches into the soil around your shrub, being careful not to disturb the roots. If the soil feels dry or powdery, that’s a sign the plant needs water. Soil that sticks together when you squeeze it together has enough moisture, so you can wait to water and check again in a day or two.
How To Water Shrubs
First, check the soil to see if watering is needed. Use a soaker hose or garden hose to water at the base of the plant, and avoid getting the leaves wet because leaves that stay wet overnight can develop fungal issues. A soaker hose slowly adds moisture to the soilso it needs to run for at least 30 minutes at a time. Or use a garden hose and hold it down to get close to the soil surface rather than watering overhead.
Tips For Watering Shrubs In A Heat Wave
Mulch helps retain moisture and reduces evaporation. Use 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch like shredded mulch or wood chips. Spread it over the root zone but don’t pile it up near the shrub’s trunk to avoid trapping moisture that leads to rot, diseases, or pests.
Use a shade cloth if needed to protect young or newly planted shrubs or sensitive rhododendrons or hydrangeas.
Extremely hot weather isn’t the time for heavy pruning, fertilizing, or moving a struggling plant to another corner of the yard. These tasks should wait until temperatures cool off to avoid adding further stress to your plants.
Move any young potted shrubs where they’ll receive some shade during the hottest part of the day.
Plant drought-tolerant shrubs that can withstand extended periods with little water, such as abelia, butterfly bush, and forsythia.
Weeds can compete with your plants for water and nutrients. Stay on top of weeding even as the weather warms to keep weeds from stealing needed moisture from shrubs.
Read the original article on Southern Living
Comments are closed.