Getting Waterwise for the Summer
If you haven't done so already, this is an important time to make sure your watering systems are up to par for the coming summer. Your non-drought resistant plants will especially need consistent water to keep them alive if/when dry spells hit.
This includes most herbs, vegetables, fruit trees and berries. Any plants with a more shallow and surface based root system - blueberries for example - will need consistent watering through the dry/hot weather when we aren't having any heavy rains to saturate deep down into the soil.
Here are my general watering tips:
Use drip irrigation and set it to water right on the feeder roots of the plants in your garden bed. This directs the water to the plant only and keeps it off the soil you don't want to encourage weed growth. The is a big benefit of drip - being able to target specifically where you want the water to go.
Check and maintain your watering systems during the growing season. As the plants grow they can end up blocking drip emitters, drip riser sprayers, and pop-up sprayers. Prune back growth periodically around them to ensure your coverage stays where you want it. You will also need to level-up your drip risers and pop-ups periodically to make them taller based on plant growth.
Here is my latest testimonial from a project in Southern Oregon, with a picture of henbit. This is a non-invasive spreading "weed" found here in our area that makes for a great mid-size ground cover in the mint family, and easy to remove.
"You are such a responsible and together businessman and gardener. I will be sure to recommend you."
Shoshana Alexander
Ashland, OR
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