Do not overhead water from 9AM to about 7:30PM. Water droplets on the leaves in the sunlight
can act like a magnifying glass and burn the leaf tissue. If you have to water during the daylight
hours water at the base of plant. Most nozzles have a surge setting that will pulse water at ground
level.
The best time to water is in the mornings before it gets too hot. This helps the plants to stay hydrated
during the day and the plant will have less water and heat stress. If you can't do it in the AM water
after 7:30 PM.
Containers need to be watered every day. Water the container until you see standing water almost to
the top of the container. Let that water work its way down into the planter and then water 1 more time.
Newly planted trees and shrubs should be watered every 7 to 10 days at a slow drip for at least 1/2 an hour
to 1 hour. Unless we are in drought stop watering in early Sept. and then water those trees or shrubs
sometime around thanksgiving (unless the ground is soaked or we have a snow pack) @ a drip for about
1 hour.
Mulch helps but stay away from the black mulch because it can cook the plants. I like double or triple processed
hardwood mulch that is made from bark.
When in doubt always plant a native plant. Almost all plants will show some kind of wilting in this heat and that
is normal and the plants will snap out of when given enough water.
Just planted materials especially annuals and perennials that haven't had a chance to develop enough roots to
bring in water and they can die in one day if they dry out. And if you see a plant in severe water stress get water
to it asap just make sure that you get the water to the base of the plant and try to avoid the leaves.
When planting and if possible try to work some kind of compost into the soil this gives the soil structure which allows
water to be more available to the plants and helps to fix atmospheric carbon too.
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