So you’re watering your plants, but they still don’t seem to be growing at their full potential. What’s worse, your plants are coming in patchy, sunburned or even moldy. Yuck! It’s so disappointing to see your plants suffer even with all your hard work.
Luckily, the mistakes you’re making are probably no big deal, and can be remedied easily. Take a close look at your gardening habits. If you’re doing any of these faux pas, stop right now to save your plants.
You Water Inconsistently
Do you water your plants at a set time every day, or only when you remember? Do you and a spouse, child or roommate take turns watering your plants?
If you aren’t watering at the same time every day, your lawn could be suffering. If you water in the late afternoon and then again in the morning, for example, your plants are receiving too much water in a small amount of time. That can keep your plants from absorbing nutrients, and gives mold and other organisms a chance to grow and overtake your garden. Likewise, if you put too much time in between watering sessions, your plants are going to be dehydrated.
Try watering in the early morning or at nighttime, at the same time every day.
You Water Unevenly
Where your water ends up in your lawn or garden matters just as much as when you water. If you want your plants to be healthy, make sure you aren’t just spraying willy-nilly. Be cautious to avoid this mistake if you use sprinklers.
Wet the roots of the plants, and not the leaves. Wet leaves can lead to mold and rot, which is especially gruesome if you’re growing edible plants! Make sure you hit the plants from all sides, and take note of your property’s physical attributes. Are your plants on a slight incline, or are there spaces where liquid can pool up? Water accordingly, or consider using irrigation techniques to make sure your watering efforts aren’t undone by gravity.
You Over-Water
Depending on what type of plants you have, you could easily harm or even kill them by over-watering. It’s tempting to over-water in the summer months, when plants seem parched and dry, but you’re actually doing more harm than good. Think of the way some plants, like lemons or tomatoes, split open following big rainstorms. That happens due to a lack of moisture being suddenly overcompensated, and if you drown your plants in water, it could happen seemingly overnight!
Keep an eye on your plants and monitor their progress before you make adjustments to your watering schedule. Make sure those adjustments are slight, too. You can always add more water to your soil, but taking it away is quite a bit harder, even in the summer heat.
And if you have questions or concerns about your plants, ABC Scapes is here to help! Give us a call at 602-404-0568 to get your lawn watered the right way.