String of Pearls

Summer watering can really eat up your time and run up the water bill, can't it? I've gathered a few tips that have helped me stay on top of this essential garden task:

Tips for Watering Garden Beds in Summer

• I've found that mulch is absolutely key to saving water—it keeps moisture in and the soil nice and cool (plus it knocks out weed seeds, which I love). But here's the thing: mulch can get packed down over time and actually block water from soaking through. After a heavy rain, I always check if the mulch is compacted and shedding water. If it is, I just give it a quick fluff with a rake.

• Have you thought about planting "green mulch"—basically, using ground cover plants instead of regular mulch? In my experience, living groundcovers do an amazing job crowding out weeds, keeping soil temperature steady, and cutting down on evaporation, plus they're wonderful for wildlife. What I love is mixing shallow-rooted, spreading groundcovers with deeper-rooted trees, perennials and shrubs—every plant gets exactly the moisture it needs.

• Trust me, soaker hoses are a game-changer compared to overhead sprinklers. They deliver water straight to where plants actually need it—the roots.

• I always water during the cooler hours—early morning or evening—so I'm not losing half my water to evaporation. If you have an automatic irrigation system, you can just set the timer to run at the perfect time of day.

That said, not every plant in your garden is going to need the same amount of water. What works for me is spot-watering newly planted additions and the especially thirsty ones, rather than just soaking everything across the board.

Related Articles:Plant These Perennials as Living Green MulchMulching Your Vegetable Garden

Summer Watering Tips for Container Gardens

Container gardens really feel the summer heat more than in-ground beds, thanks to the size, color, and exposure. In my experience, the container size makes the biggest difference in how often you'll need to water. Here are a few other things I've learned to keep in mind:

• The smaller the pot, the less soil there is to hold onto moisture—simple as that.
• Dark-colored pots soak up the sun and heat up the soil, which can really stress out the roots.
• I always water my containers in the cooler parts of the day—early morning or evening work best.
• Take your time and water slowly and deeply, until you see water running out the drainage holes.
• A watering wand has become my absolute best friend as a container gardener. They make it so much easier to reach hanging baskets and those pots tucked in tricky spots.

What to do when containers get too dry

We've all been there—you let a pot dry out and the potting mix shrinks away from the sides of the container. When that happens, I water very slowly to re-wet the mix, or if the pot's small enough, I just submerge the whole thing in a bucket of water, weigh it down with some stones, and let it soak until it's thoroughly saturated.

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