June 13, 2024

How to Water Through Heat & Drought

when weather is high & dry

Water Through It

High temperatures, dry spells, and humidity are inevitable aspects of Northeast Ohio summers. But when those elements get extreme, some plants reach their limits – wilting, going dormant, even dying – unless supported through the challenging stretch of weather. How can you help your lawn & garden survive and thrive? Water your way through it, using the proper watering practices and fantastic gardening tools outlined in this guide.

watering 101

best practices

  • Consistency is key to plant health. Don’t let plants go super dry, try to maintain even moisture. Repeatedly letting them dry out to the point of wilting, and then watering to recover, adds stress to an already stressful condition. A consistent watering habit in the vegetable garden also goes a long way to prevent Blossom End Rot in tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables, too!

  • Water in the morning. It’s best for plant health to water in the morning (watering at night creates conditions for fungus/disease). If plants noticeably need more water, it’s okay to supplement with an additional watering later in the day.

  • Always water at the base of plants. Applying water directly at the base supports and cools the roots. AVOID watering overhead on plant leaves/foliage because it creates opportunity for sunburn on flowers and foliage.

watering tools

  • Soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems slowly release water right at the ground level, as close to the roots as possible. Add a timer to automate!
  • Watering wands provide a rain-like flow and provide extra reach for plants low to the ground and hanging baskets (careful to apply under plant foliage, not overhead).
  • Oscillating sprinklers work well for the lawn.
  • Rain Barrels help with water resources when we have them available.
  • Watering can – you can’t go wrong with this garden staple, particularly when using water-soluble fertilizers!

tips & tricks

watering wise

In addition to healthy watering practices, try these:

  • Apply Hydretain® granules, working them into soil of containers and hanging baskets. Hydretain pulls moisture from the air, retains it, slowly releases it to plants, helping them tolerate drought conditions and reducing the gardener’s watering labor by as much as 50%!

  • Spread mulch around the base of plants to keep ground soil cool, plant roots cooler, and to retain ground moisture as best you can in the absence of rain. Avoid thick mulch around the neck/stem as this can suffocate the plant.

  • Keep feeding plants but make sure you’re using organic, slow-release plant foods and watering well. Feeding plants when they’re dehydrated can cause increased stress and damage.

  • Keep cutting/harvesting herbs, so they stay vegetative & productive. Don’t let them flower, or they’ll shut down!

  • Avoid spraying solutions for insects/fungus when temps are above 85º – it can cause increased stress and damage plants.

a video guide to

proper watering

While proper watering is key to success in the garden, it can be difficult to know just how much water plants are getting. In this video, Noelle demystifies watering and provides suggestions for healthy watering habits. She also introduces tools that simplify watering, including soaker hoses and watering wands.

drought tolerant

container gardening

With summer vacations and shifting routines throughout the season, finding a consistent watering schedule can be difficult. Drought-tolerant annual flowers and foliage plants are the perfect solution! They thrive in the heat of summer and are forgiving of inconsistent watering routines, though they do enjoy a thorough soaking every week or so. We trialed a combo planter featuring the plants below and it didn’t skip a beat – even during a season with very little rain and inconsistent watering.

Check out our guide for more information on proper planting, container selection, and plant suggestions.

Build the Container

watering the garden

like a boss

Increased heat and humidity along with decreased rainfall can also cause disease and fungal issues. But, if you stay diligent with healthy watering practices and plant maintenance your garden will continue to thrive.

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