MAY 6, 2007

Keeping landscapes looking nice this time of year can be a real challenge. Extremely high temperatures, little rainfall and water restrictions in many communities limit how much watering can be actively done. Plants that have shallow root systems suffer terribly, but if you really watch the way plants are watered you can still manage to bring them through until we get our summer rains.

When watering plants water thoroughly and deeply. Frequent light watering will not provide the same effect as less often but more thorough watering. Deep watering take longer to evaporate and for the plants to use them and will promote roots to grow more deeply. Frequent irrigations often times result in plants having shallow root systems since there's really no need for them to go down very deep.

Wherever practical in the landscape use mulches 2 to 4 inches deep to help shade the soil surface and modify root temperatures as well as slow down evaporation and loss of water. With some types of plants that have very shallow roots the simple act of mulching may reduce the need for watering by 50%. Plants that are large have root systems that are correspondingly larger, too, so they don't need as much water as small bedding plants or foliage plants that would have very small shallow root systems.

Generally a landscape which has been well established for several years should not need watering more than about twice a week. The exception would be turfgrass which might require three times a week watering. There is never any reason to water more than three times a week for any type of plants.

Also water at night so that water is not lost to evaporation as quickly. Communities that have water restrictions now require watering only during the nighttime hours and watering must be completed by 7 or 8 a.m. in most cases.

If you have porch or patio plants in containers, this time of year they must be watched more carefully, too, but don't be guilty of watering them too much either. Usually about once every three days is adequate for most container plants unless they are extremely pot bound and in a very small container.

Plants that are in hot sunny exposed areas all day naturally dry out much quicker than those that are in the shadows of buildings or trees and watering may have to be adjusted for different types of lighting situations, too, in addition to the types of plant material.

When putting in landscaping always try and make sure the plants in specific areas have about the same water requirements. Never mix plants with high water requirements together with those that have low water requirements since those that need little water may get too much water when you're trying to keep the high water ones happy.

Watch fruit trees this time of year, too, because many fruit trees have fruits that are fairly large now and many cases two inches or more in diameter. This is especially true with citrus, mangoes and avocados. Trees that are water stressed will abort large amounts of immature fruit and you will get less to enjoy this season. Make sure fruit trees are soaked thoroughly at least every 5 to 7 days.

If you have questions about specific water needs in your landscape for certain plants, you can always get some valuable free advice from the Palm Beach County Extension Service. Dial 233-1750 in the north and central county area or 276-1260 in the south county area.

GJ/nr