Droughts are a gardener’s worst nightmare: even with careful preparation, proper pest control and well thought-out garden organization, a lengthy spell of dry weather and intense heat can completely ruin your crops. In extremely hot seasons, authorities are often forced to introduce restrictions to curb outdoor water use, which is why every garden keeper should strive to achieve optimal water management during summer months. To keep your veggies well-watered and your garden and shrubs thriving, consider one of these gardening tricks for times of low precipitation and soaring temperatures.
1 – A morning drop goes a long way
Morning is the best time of day to water your lawn and garden in dry seasons. Early in the morning, plants are most likely to absorb the life-giving drops and put them to good use, compared to the evening which is the peak transpiration period for most trees, or midday and afternoon when a considerable portion of water will evaporate from the ground due to high temperatures before the greenery gets to soak it in.
2 – The slower, the wetter
During drought, you need to make the most out of every drop if you want your garden to stay alive and thrive. Soaker hoses produce better watering effects than running hoses because they provide a steady, slow drip-based irrigation for long periods of time, minimizing moisture loss through heat and allowing H2O to seep all the way through to the deep layers of the ground where roots can absorb it. The slow-watering system is important for deep root growth and development of strong, healthy plant underground stem system.
3 – Prioritize your daily watering
When water becomes sparse, every wise gardener knows it is time to start prioritizing. Depending on the stage of growth and species-based water requirements, you may want to drop regular watering for some plants and focus available H2O supply to food-bearing stalks, greens with shallow roots and mature crops. It would also be a good idea to occasionally water large trees that provide shade to the rest of the garden while skipping lawn sprinkling (grass will grow back eventually, but your crops need to be ripe and delicious when the time comes for you to harvest them).
4 – Mulch it well
Organic mulch can help conserve moisture and prevent drying of the soil in the root zones. During a severe drought, spread a thick layer of mulch made from hay, straw or shredded leaves around permanent plants and trees all the way to the drip hose (just avoid applying mulch directly to the trunk as it may cause the bark to rot). On top of preventing moisture loss, mulch can also block weed growth and thus additionally minimize unnecessary draining of nutrients and water from the soil.
5 – A basin a day keeps drought at bay
Watering basins are another H2O-saving tool which you can use to ensure growth and ripening of your garden in dry months. Form a basin with a berm around shrubs and young trees to ensure water soaks through the ground to the roots. For improved water management, make double berms, the first at the end of the drip line and the other some five inches from the trunk to prevent rotting of the bark.
6 – Ward off drought with water-saving gear
Additional garden gear that can help you counter severe droughts includes some pump sprayers, deep-root irrigators with needlelike or forked shafts and various heat-resistant containers such as plastic or glazed terra-cotta pots. For maximum moisture preservation, crowd smaller plant-bearing pots inside a larger container or bury them in the ground with just the rim showing.
When heat gets tough, tough gardeners are the ones who haul in huge crops despite all odds. Follow the tips listed above and you too will be one of the happy harvesters, come rain or drought.