To Water, or Not Water?

October 19, 2007

I know I've been talking about seeing to it that your plants are well watered before they go into a long winter's stress. Then I say, "Don't water"! Well, there's a method to this madness.

If you spray, the water doesn't get a chance to soak into the ground...but you use a lot of water (like Seattle). However, you can lay the hose so the water spills directly onto the ground, right at the stem of your shrub, or in the middle of the clump of your perennial plant. At this point, turn the water on so it just trickles into the ground. This way it will be absorbed right down to the roots without running off the top of the soil. The smaller the trickle, the better the effect.

Let it run for quite awhile. Maybe 30-45 minutes. If it runs longer, no harm done. Every drop of water will go directly to the roots of the plant rather than just staying on the top of the soil where it does no good.

Remember do not use a sprinkler for this! We're not talking about a lawn, we're talking about shrubs, trees, and perennials. At this point, don't bother watering annuals, unless they are in a pot.