How to Water Your Plants and Lawn During the Summer Months

With much of the south caught in a serious drought situation this can cause serious stress for much of your garden. But there are ways that you can tend to your plants that will help them through the rough time, with proper care and attention to watering your plants they will come through unscathed and will continue to give you color, excitement and enjoyment.

In following these 12 tips you will have beautiful plants all summer right into the fall.

1. Plants that you have growing in containers can and will dry out more quickly than if they are in planted in the ground. You should water daily but make sure the soil doesn't feel soggy or have water stand on the top of the soil. Water your plants until the water runs our of the drainage holes.

Clay pots allow moisture to evaporate so watering more frequently is required. Small container dry out quickly so watering more often is required compared to larger pots.

2. If you have your containers setting on concrete and pavement, move them to a cooler and/or shadier location during the hottest part of the day. Plants need to be protected from the extra heat that concrete and pavement give off.

Think about where you are placing your potted plants. They also need protection from damaging winds and hard rain during a summer storm.

3. Persuade your annuals that have faded blooms to bloom a second time but pinching or cutting them back to about � of their height, then you need to fertilize with a mixture that is higher in phosphorus, that is the middle number of the fertilizer measure.

4. Cutting your flowers is done best by using a pair of sharp pruner's or scissors; this will avoid injury to your plant. Always cut at a slant, which allows for more absorption of water and prevents the base of the stem from sealing off while it's inactivate on the bottom of the container.

5. Did you know that your trees could lose up to 10% of their leaves during very dry conditions? That's right, they loose their leaves so the tree can conserve its moisture loss and cause little or no harm to the tree. Now you know why you see leaves blowing in the wind during the summer months.

6. In protecting your trees and shrubs from drying out is the way to keep them healthy. Healthy and well-hydrated plants have a better fight against diseases and insect infestations. Applying a organic mulch, 3 inches in depth, around the base of the plant, will help conserve valuable moisture.

7. If you live in a southern state that has infestations of beetles, keep at close watch out. Beetles lay their eggs in July and August and are constantly moving to new and more delicious plants. It's helpful to have several beetle bags in your garden. They are not the most beautiful bags but it's better than dead plants.

8. While mowing your lawn, it's very important during the long hot summer months to mow at the appropriate height. This helps your lawn to hold moisture in and lower the soils temperature. Never scalp your lawn in the summer! If you have a mulching mower, that's great. The grass clipping decompose right back into your lawn and your lawn will thank you for it.

9. The best way to water lawn is to water to a depth of 4 to 6 inches, then don't water again for about a week. This will encourage the lawn to grower deeper roots and find more water during drought conditions. Just sprinkling your lawn is harmful because it doesn't allow the roots to grow deeper and search for water.

10. During the summer months observe your trees shade. The shade that your tree gives to your lawn causes patchy grass to no grass at all. Plant to trim your trees next spring.

11. Do you see a brown or gray cast on your lawn? This is caused by a dull mower blade or a mower blade that is adjusted wrong. It could be shredding your grass instead of shredding it. Look at the blades of grass you have cut, check for jagged edges, it should be a nice clean cut.