In this week’s edition of “Cincinnati Gardening Made Simple,” we’re tackling the heat with essential summer watering tips to help keep your plants thriving, even in hot weather.

Summer Watering Tips for Healthy Plants

During high temperatures, checking your plants regularly is critical to keeping them hydrated and healthy.

1. Check Before You Water: Always inspect your plants before watering. Pull back any mulch, visually check the soil, and feel it to assess moisture levels in the root ball and surrounding soil.
2. Wilted Leaves Don’t Always Mean Dry Soil: Wilted leaves can indicate too little or too much water. Always physically check the soil moisture before assuming your plant needs water.
3. Small Root Balls and Containers Need Frequent Watering: Smaller root systems and container-grown plants dry out faster, especially in the summer heat. Hanging baskets, potted plants, groundcover, and annuals may need daily or every-other-day watering.
4. Use Water-Absorbing Polymers: Products like Soil Moist can be added to container soil to help reduce watering needs by retaining moisture. Learn more about watering containers here.
5. Avoid Overwatering: You won’t overwater by giving plants a single deep soak. Overwatering happens when you water too frequently, keeping the soil constantly wet, which can lead to root rot. Let the soil dry out a bit between waterings to allow roots to breathe. The best practice is to soak thoroughly, allow it to nearly dry, and then soak again.

Why Are Your Plants Drying Out?

1. Rain Isn’t Always Enough: Don’t assume that summer showers and thunderstorms provide sufficient water. Use a rain gauge to measure rainfall accurately.
2. New Plants Need Extra Care: Plants establish a strong root system over several years. Established plants and newer additions will need supplemental watering during dry spells or droughts.
3. Plants Near Large Trees Dry Out Faster: If your plants are near or under large trees, they may dry out more quickly due to competition for soil moisture.

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