Some people call them the ‘dog days of summer’ (after Sirius, the dog star that’s most visible this time of year, not because we’re all lying on the floor with our tongues hanging out, panting). But they should be called the ‘drought days of summer.’ The corn’s piped and grey-green, the trees are starting to brown and drop leaves, and those of us who hope to glean anything from our vegetable gardens are watering like mad.
Well, maybe not like mad. More like judiciously. Particularly if you’ve planned for the kind of summers we’ve been having here in recent years. Drought-stricken. Yet even if you didn’t plan ahead, there are still ways to help mitigate the impact of drought on vegetable and perennial beds, fruits, trees, shrubs and the water system. These strategies also help protect the Bay and make the best use of whatever precipitation we actually get.
Mulch. Spread a layer of mulch over everything. Provided it’s not black plastic or exposed dark landscape cloth, mulch will help retain whatever moisture the soil gets. Two inches or so of organic mulch will also help moderate soil temperatures, which can soar in the extreme heat we’ve been experiencing lately, stressing even the best-mulched and -watered plants.
Conserve water. There are several easy ways to do that.
Set up rain barrels* to help catch what pours off your roof for later use. Even if you don’t pay for municipal water, as many of us here do, it saves. Using stored rainwater is also easier on plants – they stay alive with chlorinated water, but few thrive on it, and it helps to mitigate the stress on the water and sewer system.
Use drip or soaker hoses so the roots get every last drop. Overhead watering wastes about 35% of the spray through evaporation if you do it in the middle of a hot, windy day.
Time your watering. Early morning is optimum since it will help the plants withstand the stress of the day to come rather than trying to revive them after the fact. Evening watering works, though it may contribute to disease problems.
Be aware of water restrictions and comply with them regardless of whether they’re voluntary or mandatory. Rain barrel water is like money in the bank in times of shortages.
Prioritize watering. Put simply: lawn should be last – if at all. First priorities are food plants and newly planted trees and shrubs, which are still shallow-rooted while establishing. The second tier is fruit trees, and perennials. Ornamental grasses, which are usually extremely drought-tolerant, will hang in for several weeks without a drink if they are established and mulched. Turf tends to go dormant in this kind of weather, but will return with the autumn rains. (Seehttps://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/timelytips.cfm#Lawns)
Weed. Weeds compete (successfully, usually) for water with the squash and beans and perennials. The fewer weeds, the more water for the plants you want.
Prevent surface runoff. Don’t water even a bit of paved surface. It’s wasteful of one of the most precious (and threatened) resources on the planet, and simultaneously washes whatever chemicals are on the driveway into the storm drains and eventually into tributaries.
Plant smart: native plants, especially native ecotypes, (those natives that have actually been raised here), are the best choices for perennial plantings since they are best adapted to the range of climatic conditions we have here.
Remember the wildlife
Leave shallow pans of fresh water out for wildlife and beneficial insects. Keep birdbaths filled with fresh, clean water. Leave dunks or granules in pans if they stand for any period to prevent mosquito infestations. Dunks will not harm the critters.
*Set one rain barrel up at the edge of the house near the potted plants to have it at the ready. Be sure the openings into the barrel, both from the downspout and from the overflow hose, are fine enough mesh to prevent mosquitos starting a mosquito ranch inside the barrel. Cover both with mosquito netting, if necessary. (Tiger mosquitoes can penetrate some of the mesh on commercial barrels, I’ve discovered.).
Below are tips for coping with drought from University of Maryland’s Home Garden Information Center (HGIC).
https://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/timelytips.cfm
Signs of Drought Stress
:
https://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/timelytips.cfm#Signs
Watering Tips
https://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/timelytips.cfm#Watering