Water early in the morning -
or as the sun is setting. Watering at these times of the day will
decrease water evaporation before it reaches the roots. Giving the roots
a good soaking will encourage the plant to grow towards the surface
instead of downwards in search of water.
As soon as you have watered - mulch your plants to retain moisture in
the soil and decrease evaporation. There are many "recycled" mulch
options such as grass cuttings, home-made compost, shredded prunings
from your shrubs. Shading plants with horticulture fleece is another
alternative and is important for vegetables.
Do not dig your flower borders or vegetable patch to keep moisture from moving to the surface leading to evaporation. You should continue to pull weed as they are fierce competitors for the moisture in the soil.
Direct the water straight at the roots of
at-risk plants, which include seedlings, newly transferred plants,
trees planted within a year, and those that are flowering or producing
fruit. Well-established shrubs and trees can cope for a week to 10 days
without water and weeds can go without the extra attention as well.
Do not water your lawn! Once
the rains return, so will the rich green color of your lawn. Avoiding
mowing will also keep the water inside the grass blades and reduce the
recovery period for your grass. Watering deep and infrequently yields
the healthiest roots.
