Container Gardens
Growing Plants in Dry Weather
by Jenni Worboys, The WeatherHut.com
Different plants will cope well in various weather conditions; however, some will survive better than others. Hot dry weather creates difficult living conditions for plants, drying out the moisture they need to grow and survive. This article explores how to protect your garden from the dry weather and how you can measure the weather, helping you determine when your plants may need some extra attention.
The most visible effect that the dry weather has on the garden is drying up and wilting plants, damaging them both internally and externally. Wilting is usually first visible at the top of the plant and at the end of the leaves. As soon as you see indicators of your plants wilting you should water to prevent and further damage.
When you are planning your garden, ensure you select plants that can handle hot dry weather to give your garden the best chance of survival. There are several attractive plants available that are hardy enough these weather conditions, including flowers such as Poppies, Cornflowers, Marigolds, Salvia, Wallflower, and Chrysanthemums. Likewise, shrubs such as Birches, Magnolias, Ceanothus, Euphorbia, and Thyme can make a hardy, attractive addition to your garden. Most silver leafed plants will also stand dry conditions very well, in fact, these are some of the toughest plants you can grow; attractive varieties of silver leafed plants include Honey Flower, Lavender and Big Ears. Succulents also grow well in these conditions, and as an added benefit, rock gardens planted with succulents are easy care and very modern at the moment!
Your plants will need more watering to combat the hot dry weather. Use a weather station to monitor the weather, ensuring that you do not water when rain is predicted. Rain is full of natural nutrients for the garden, and if you water on days when it rains, you may end up over watering your plants this is just as bad for them as letting them dry out.
The time you choose to water your plants is key to their survival. Avoid watering during the hottest part of the day (between 10am and 4pm), as the sun may cause the water to boil and cook your plants as a result. This can also happen with potted plants, so where possible they should be moved out of direct sunlight and away from windows, allowing them to absorb more water. Try to water in the evening as this gives plants the most time to absorb the water before the sun and wind dry out the soil, although if it the night and evenings are cool in your area try not to water plants after 5pm as this may promote fungal growth. A weather station with a leaf wetness sensor can help monitor this, warning you when your plants are most prone to fungal or bacterial diseases.
Your plants will appreciate a more thorough watering less often, than a short watering every day. A light sprinkling of water only dampens the soil and encourages the roots to grow shallower in order to receive the amount of water they desire. In comparison, a through watering causes the water to move deep into the soil, and get to the bottom of the roots, encouraging them to grow deeper and meaning hardier plants that are more likely survive the dry conditions. Sprinklers or irrigation systems are a good way to achieve this.
Although it is important to make sure your plants are getting enough water, you must also ensure that you do not over water them. Some high quality weather stations provide soil moisture sensors, allowing you to electronically monitor the amount of water your plants are receiving this is ideal if you have particularly delicate plants or plants that you have noticed are struggling with the dry conditions. A less accurate but cheaper way to tell when plants need water is to pick up a handful of soil from around the base of the plant (being careful not to disturb or damage the roots), and squeeze it in your hand, ideally it should form a ball. If it crumbles the soil is dry and needs watering, if it oozes, the soil is too wet and you need to hold off watering for a while.
To help retain moisture, spread a thin layer (1-3 inches) of mulch on the garden in late spring; this helps to retain moisture during summer by preventing it from evaporating, and has the added benefits of providing extra nutrients and discouraging weeds. Be careful not to apply too much mulch as this can encourage shallow root growth, and can prevent water from penetrating down to the roots. When you are planting, you should also add an organic matter to the soil as this can also work to help retain moisture.
Each of these tips should help you achieve a stunning garden despite the difficult weather conditions. For more information on the weather and gardening, visit The WeatherHut.com. Good luck and good weather!
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February 15th, 2008 at 3:59 am
i believe they are easier to grow than other types of plants…