WATER you talking about?

Hallelujah! We finally got some rain this week. Even though it has been all at once we are grateful for it and so are the plants! Water is the most essential element to all life, including us, so it should come as no surprise that it is the most important aspect of gardening as well… closely followed by soil! So, for this month’s blog post I thought I’d get into watering tips!

Watering is the number one issue when it comes to growing plants. 8 times out of ten the issues you may be experiencing, if you are, can be contributed to watering. Too much water and too little water can often show the same symptoms so it can be difficult to diagnose. That is where we try to bridge the gap and after you have experience you will know exactly what to do! Sounds intimidating but it really isn’t once you get the hang of it. If you are ever unsure, take the plant out of the pot and look at the root system. It should be noticeable on if it is too wet or too dry.

As a general rule, I tell people it is easier to come back from too dry as opposed to too wet. If plants get too wet or never dry out their roots will rot and there is no turning back. So always air on the side of a bit drier if possible. For potted plants this is most crucial because even though there is a drainage hole the amount of water able to disperse is minimal compared to in the ground. For this reason, make sure to check the soil before you water. It is as easy as sticking your finger a few inches into the soil and feeling the moisture level. If it feels moist, let it be. If it feels dry, water it thoroughly (so water drains out the bottom). Watering is both extremely easy and very nuanced, but not to worry you will get the hang of it!

A question we get asked a lot is, “How often should I water?” The answer may be frustrating, but it just depends! How often that plant dries out is based on many factors including but not limited to soil type, container material, sun exposure, humidity, temperature, etc. and there often isn’t a magic amount. It is best to get the hang of checking and once you do that a few times, you’ll know how long it usually takes to dry out. For me, indoor plants I check about once a week. For outdoor, during the heat of the summer, usually every other day.

What if my plant is in the ground? How do I know? We typically recommend newly planted perennials, shrubs and trees be watered every couple days when we are not getting rain. If we get a good rain, you can wait a few days to water again. If you have planted a new tree or shrub this spring, you’ll want to be extra diligent about watering it this summer to get it established. Once established it probably will not need it, however it takes larger plants a while to get their roots spread out enough to fend for themselves. For situations like this and when we get very dry (if that happens) this summer, a slow drip is better than standing over it pouring for a few minutes. Just set a timer for an hour or so, leave the hose on a small drip around the plant’s drip line and let it soak for a bit.

A great idea my mother had was to gift people a six pack of annuals or so to plant under their trees in the spring so that way they would not forget to water them! Food for thought, or shall I say, water?

Just like us, plants need water to survive, but they also need nutrients which can be depleted in the hot summer sun. If you want your plants not just to survive, but to thrive, fertilizing is very beneficial! I always say that anything is better than nothing. If you have fertilizer laying around, go for it, just make sure to follow the directions on the back of the label. We love Jack’s Classic fertilizers (formerly known as Peter’s) for water soluble and Espoma for granular. However, there are so many different brands and anything is better than nothing!

Here’s to a beautiful summer ahead and may we get plenty of free water!

If you ever have questions or concerns about watering, please feel free to email us. We would be happy to help! info@stanleysgreenhouse.com