Summer heat without water equals supplemental watering

From: Laura Kieser, Dan Martens and Nathan Winter, University of Minnesota Extension

According to the Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service, much of the area has an adequate amount of topsoil moisture, but we should expect to start having some moisture issues if the temperatures stay high without rain. If we do not see rain in the region in the next few days or weeks, supplemental watering is going to be essential for plants. Plants will be put under high amounts of stress, wilting, or could possibly die without an adequate amount of water.

First of all, most of you have already been watering plant containers fairly regular. They are going to continually need water anywhere from every day to a week between watering. Check moisture by touching the soil to see how much water is available. Often it is recommended to water with a liquid fertilizer at half the recommended rate every time you water.

Flower and vegetable gardens will also need supplemental water. Water these once to twice weekly depending on how dry they get. Any areas in full sun may need additional watering. Water heavily each time the flowers and vegetables need watering and then do not water again until the soil appears dry. A little bit of water stress on the plants will push the root systems down deeper into the soil.

Lawns will also need watering if hot dry weather persists. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends 1 to 1 1/2 inches every 7 to 10 days. Raise mower height to 2 1/2 to 3 inches to help increase the size of the root system. Watering early on in the growing season will make the lawn more dependent on future watering during dry weather. Many people acclimate their lawns to the dryer conditions by not watering, thereby making the lawn more tolerant to drought later.

Trees also need water even though their root systems are deeper. Trees also need about 1 inch of rain per week to maintain their vegetative needs.