Hot Hot Hot Summertime!

Wow the summer heat is here! Staying cool and hydrated is very important for good health. Your garden needs water to stay healthy too. This is can be a little tricky with water restrictions and evaporation, so when is the best time to water?

Personally I go for the early morning. This give your plants enough time to absorb the vital water. Some would tell you that in the evening would be better, but this can lead to all sorts of problems.
Moisture sitting on your plants and lawn all night can lead to insect damage and disease.
In the moist dark climate slugs love to do their thing. Chewing little holes in plants like Hosta and your vegetables. I have an organic fix for slugs (tell You later). Slug damage is ugly but won't harm your plants.
Other problems from moisture in the warm summer nights are molds and mildew. Various molds can destroy your lawn and your favorite plants.
Lilacs and phlox will become infected with powdery mildew and eventually die from this pest. To prevent this from occurring clean up all over grown and dead plant material often. Help your plants have air circulation. Water in the early morning while it is still cool. Try not to water too late in the day as this will just waste water through evaporation.

Potted plants will have a bigger need for water than ground plants. Some can be moved into the shade, this will lower the stress on your plants. Using water absorbing materials will help maintain water for later use by the plants. So keep an eye out for the needs of your garden and help it flourish... don't drown it!