As this monsoon is demonstrating, our rainfall in 蜜柚直播 is very variable. This makes it a challenge for gardeners to figure out how much to water their plants throughout the year. This week, we鈥檙e focusing on watering tips and tricks to help you use water most efficiently.
Plants' watering needs will vary depending on the season. Your soil also matters, as do the microclimates in your yard and the plants you have. 蜜柚直播 has two seasons when we can expect precipitation: winter and the wet summer (or monsoon).
As much as 70% of residential water use is used for landscaping, according to the . The water we use is fully treated potable water 鈥 not the best use of resources. If you want to be smart about your water use, here are some basics of watering in our variable desert. Please also check out the two-page graphic in the 蜜柚直播鈥檚 Sunday Home+Life section. You can find a link to the digital version here.
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General tips:
- The hottest and driest part of the year is our dry summer, roughly May and June. This is when plant water demand will be the highest. However, the length of this period varies greatly depending on the start and vigor of our monsoon.
- The microclimates in your yard will influence how much water your plants use. Plants will lose more water in sunny and/or windy areas than in shady, sheltered areas.
- Plants with similar water needs should be planted together, and ideally be on the same irrigation circuit. For example, don鈥檛 put cacti and citrus trees near each other 鈥 one of them will die due to their vastly different water needs. Similarly, if you're putting in an irrigation system from scratch, plan for separate circuits for trees, large shrubs and smaller plants.
- The more organic matter your soil has, the more moisture it will hold. Mulch will also help keep soil most and reduce watering frequency.
- In our climate, drip irrigation is the most efficient way to deliver water to plants. A programmable drip irrigation system allows you to adjust the frequency of waterings with very little effort on your part.
- Alternate sources of water, such as rainwater harvesting, greywater harvesting, and (if possible) use of can help you water your plants much more efficiently and cut down on our water waste.
- Be careful not to overwater your plants. This is difficult in our summer, but can still happen, and the symptoms are similar to underwatering (limp leaves). Be particularly careful about your containers, and make sure they have open drainage holes.
- When the thermometer reaches over 100 and the sun is high, don鈥檛 be surprised if your smaller containers need daily watering 鈥 or even twice daily. To reduce their watering needs, use pots that are at least 24 inches round and deep, and mulch your pots.
- I highly recommend getting inexpensive outdoor thermometers with multiple sensors that you can hang in different parts of your yard. These will let you know the high and low temperatures in your yard and help you figure out some details about your yard鈥檚 microclimates.
Links to helpful resources:
- For a thorough guide to water needs for every kind of plant you can imagine, take a look at .
- For a worksheet on figuring out your soil type and another resource on how long to water, check out .
- Check out the .
- For a primer on drip irrigation, see from the University of 蜜柚直播鈥檚 Extension office.
- For a monthly watering schedule, check out . You can sign up for month-specific guidelines by text.
- Here's an .
- Here are some , salt buildup and how to prevent it, and signs of overwatering.
- Sign up for a .
For more gardening information and articles on gardening in the 蜜柚直播 area, !
Do you have any gardening topics you'd like to see covered in the 蜜柚直播 Garden Guide? Email me at dheusinkveld@tucson.com with your suggestions and questions. Thanks for reading!
