When/Why/How to Water!

So. Let's get this blog going. A lot of my customers have been asking a lot about their trees/shrubs looking wilted and scraggly in the last few weeks. I felt this would be a good subject to start on. Without seeing the plants, I can't give you a positive answer on what the problem is. However, if you live in the corn belt, then it's pretty easy to guess. A severe drought, as you may have noticed, has all but taken over America. 

Source: http://capitalclimate.blogspot.com/2012/07/us-drought-coverage-expands-to-decade.html

This does NOT mean you have to sit and watch everything die. The obvious answer is to water everything, but there is more to it than that. 

1. Everything requires different watering techniques. 
   a. Grass/turf needs to have anywhere from 1 to 2 inches of water every week, depending on the temperature.
   b. Trees (depending on size) need to get nice and soaked at LEAST every 3 weeks.
   c. Flowers should be watered daily. Since flowers vary a lot from species to species, make sure you look up your particular flowers' watering methods. 

REMEMBER: Whether the trees/flowers/turf is on an incline or a recces does have a large effect on how much water is needed. Obviously if you have a tree in the bottom of a pit, it will need less water, as the water flows to it. On the other hand, If you have a tree right on top of a hill and you want to keep it green, you better prepare for the big water bill, because that water will mostly be leeching down into the hill. 

If you plan on watering, one of the most important details I can tell you is when to water. It is always best to water before sunrise, and if needed, after sunset. Watering in the daytime, while helpful, will not accomplish as much as this preferred cycle. The sun cooks a lot of the water away and pretty much just wastes your time and money. Also important to remember: if you water at night, there is a slight chance of contracting mildew/fungal problems. This isn't a huge threat, but one to consider. Make sure that when you water, you are watering the ground. Splashing water onto the leaves of a tree will magnify the suns rays and scorch the leaves, leaving you with a bigger mess than what you started with.

There is such a thing as pointless watering. If you water a 50 foot maple tree, for example, for 5 minutes, It gives the tree the idea that there is moisture, essentially putting it into grow mode. This is bad because the tree THINKS there is plenty of water, when in reality there's just enough for a taste. When it comes to larger trees, a "slow drip" method is your best choice. Turn your hose and to just a slight trickle, set it at the base of the tree and walk away. Check on it every few hours, and if you see a puddle forming, move the hose to a different spot.

Remember that just because a tree looks healthy and moisturized, doesn't mean it is. Larger trees can be negatively affected by drought, but not show it until up to 3 years later! So make sure your paying attention to ALL of your trees, not just the ones that look stressed. 

There's your advice for the day. The most important thing to remember is that your trees/shrubs/turf needs to be watered when we are in a heat spell like this. No exceptions. 

pro-tip: A lot of communities offer a discount if you call and let them know that you are watering your lawn. In my city, for example, if you call and let them know that you're watering a lot, they drop off your sewer charge so that your bill isn't sky-high. Recommend calling them and seeing if they offer this deal in your city!