Now that summer has arrived, it’s likely that your plants will need a little extra care to survive the warm temperatures. While occasionally spraying your plants with a garden hose may seem like enough, proper watering requires both dedication and effort. Help your garden thrive this summer by following these simple tips from Nature Plus Lawn & Irrigation, Cincinnati, OH’s top lawn care professionals.

Tips for Watering Your Plants           

Water by Weight

When watering hanging or potted plants, it’s important to lift each planter beforehand. Pots and baskets that feel heavy are already well-saturated and don’t need additional watering. However, if it feels light, that indicates the soil is dry and needs more moisture. With time, you’ll learn what each container should feel like when the soil is thoroughly dampened. In turn, it will help you gauge when it’s time to water again.

Start with Soil

For plants that aren’t in pots, lawn care professionals recommend paying close attention to ground conditions. Just looking at the top soil isn’t enough, as plants often have deep roots that extend well below the surface. Instead, purchase a soil-moisture sensor from a local lawn services company, or simply use a garden spade to check the ground next to each plant. Healthy, well-watered soil should be thoroughly moist for several inches under the surface. If it’s dry and crumbly, water your plants as soon as possible.

Slow and Steady

Whether you’re tending a potted plant or a garden bed, watering too quickly just isn’t effective. For potted plants, focus on slowly adding moisture near the roots, giving the water time to sink into the soil before pouring more. Doing so may take several minutes, depending on the size of each pot.

For larger lawns and garden beds, it can take several hours for water to penetrate deep into the soil. Spending hours outside watering your garden or lawn isn’t practical, so investing in a slow-drip irrigation system, or an automatic sprinkler system is a great option for many homeowners.

Don’t Over Do It

Oversaturating plants is just as harmful as not watering enough. Too much moisture in the soil hinders air circulation that’s essential for keeping roots healthy. What’s more, overwatering can lead to damage from plant diseases and root rot. To prevent this, lawn care professionals recommend checking soil and weather conditions regularly.

For more helpful tips on caring for your plants, contact Nature Plus Lawn Care & Irrigation. With a reputation for offering top-quality irrigation and lawn services, this team of experienced professionals has been serving the Cincinnati are for over 25 years. Call (513) 755-9434 to schedule a lawn treatment or visit their website.