Remember to Water

Basic planting supplies should include a watering can. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Remember to Water

I was at one of my favorite yearly plant sales when one of the ladies said she just had someone complain that the plants she purchased last year didn’t make it.

“Did you water them,” the lady asked the customer.

“No.”

And once again, someone who may have claimed to have a brown thumb is revealed to have forgotten a basic requirement when planting: water.

Note to all shoppers at Gardeners of the Forest City plant sale. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

One of the reasons I like to plant in spring is that I can time the work around spring showers. Rain provides so many more benefits to plants than we may realize; the newly-oxygenated water can saturate soil and fully moisturize it making soluble nutrients available to soil microorganisms.

In addition, city water contains fluoride which inhibits plants from taking up nutrients.

When looking at soil composition, 25% of all soil is water so to keep soil in balance, it should get about 1” of water a week.

No need for a watering can, you can also repurpose a one gallon milk jug. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

When I am getting ready to plant, I always carry a water source with me, either a watering can or a recycled milk jug, that way I won’t forget to add water before I move on to the next project.

In summer, when temperatures are much hotter, I used an underground watering wand to keep plant roots moist.

The bottom line is when you plant, water. You may be amazed at how quickly a black thumb will turn green!

Charlotte