Garden Tip 210

We gardeners are so engrossed in spring garden projects in May that I thought I would say a few words about follow-up watering. There is a product on the market called Wet and Forget. It is a product that controls mold and mildew and has absolutely nothing to do with watering plants. However, every time I hear the name it reminds me that we are so busy in the spring that we sometimes become a bit negligent in the repeat watering of newly planted material.

It only takes one dry spell to damage, or even kill, new plantings. And the weather can mislead us. Much of May has been cool and damp, but not all that wet. I now mark my calendar with precipitation totals when we are lucky enough to have some rain.

New plantings should be watered well every third or fourth day, depending on the weather. Think about what you are watering. If you planted something from a one-, two-, or three-gallon pot, for instance, you know how deep you had to dig that hole. The active roots are at the bottom of the hole, so a good watering means a deep watering. Water, repeat, remember.