Hot Houston Summer: Watering Tips
Hot Houston Summer
Houston, we have a problem - it’s HOT. We've officially entered our hot season in the garden! Here are a few watering tips to help your kitchen garden thrive all summer long.
Houston Heat: Just Add Water
One of the biggest threats to your plants during the hottest months is lack of water. Plants lose water through their leaves, and soil surfaces dry out quickly, leaving shallow roots thirsty.
You can protect your plants from water loss by watering long and slow, a good practice to start even before your temperatures near the triple digits. By doing so, you encourage your plants to develop deeper roots, which will help them find nutrients and water during long, hot afternoons.
Watering only a little bit every day or only wetting the top few inches of soil, in contrast, tells your plants to keep their roots short, to better find water near the surface of the soil.
Additionally, soil that's damp throughout maintains a more consistent temperature and is less likely to dry out, which would put stress on your plants. Your goal should be soil that's damp to the touch at all times (never soggy and never fully dried out).
Houston Heat: Water in the Early Morning
Watering in the morning—the earlier, the better—helps your plants prepare for the long hours of bright sun ahead (and keeps you out of the sun). The wee hours of the morn are when the temperatures and wind speed tend to be lowest, meaning you won't lose as much water to evaporation.
If you were to wait to water until the sun is high overhead, you risk not only wasting water, but also scalding the leaves of your plants when all those little water droplets act like magnifying glasses.
The best way to give water to your plants early in the day is through a drip irrigation system. The lines will apply water directly to the roots, where it's most needed, and they'll keep your garden watered deeply. Drip irrigation also reduces the overall water used - so it’s a watering win-win.
Plants appreciate the consistent watering schedule that drip irrigation can provide, and you'll have greater peace of mind knowing that your plants' thirst is quenched during these hot months.
If you can’t water early in the morning, watering later in the evening after the garden is in the shade is the next best thing .
Houston Heat: Check Your Soil
If water seems to run off the soil or not absorb well, add 1-2” of compost to the top of your garden to help maintain moisture.
Check the moisture level of your soil by placing your finger down 1” into the soil. If it’s dry, the kitchen garden needs more water.
Want a garden to water? Ready to take the next step? The first step is a garden consultation: