Royal Creations Blog

Watering for Summer

It is no secret that we are in the middle of a major drought and an historic heat wave.  Our landscape plants need water to survive the heat and drought.  Here are some things we at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping suggest to keep your plants and landscapes in good condition this summer. 

Trees 

Trees add the most value to a landscape of any plant.  They take the longest to grow, too.  Many trees do not show drought stress until they are already in trouble, so you may not see signs your tree is hurting now.  They are definitely stressed between the extreme heat and the drought.  Trees use water to cool themselves and will literally cook without an adequate supply of water.   

Younger trees that have been planted in the last three years are especially at risk.  To prevent that, make sure to water your trees thoroughly.  Trees need two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter two to three times a week during their first three years.  During a drought, they can survive on one to two inches of water two or three times a week to get them through the summer to the fall. 

Established trees should be watered deeply with two to three inches per inch of trunk diameter, especially when they show drought stress.  These signs include dropping or wilting leaves, small or malformed leaves, yellowing of the leaves, and browning tips of the leaves.  Always water in the morning before ten if possible so they dry out by nightfall.  This helps prevent fungus and other diseases. 

Foundation 

We have clay soil that can become a hard, impervious rock during the summer when there is little rain.  Your soil will pull away from your foundation when it shrinks in the heat.  When it does rain, the cracks between your soil and your foundation fill up and can cause damage and flooding.  To prevent this, water around your foundation during the summer.  Running your sprinklers twice a week early in the morning will keep your soil moist and protect your house from problems. 

Check Irrigation 

Speaking of sprinklers, have you checked to make sure all your sprinkler heads are working properly?  A busted head can cause a problem anytime.  During a drought, you risk plants dying around a head that no longer emits enough water or even erosion problems from concentrated water flow in a specific area.  Most homeowners typically check their sprinkler system in the spring when it is turned on and again in late fall when it is turned off.  We suggest adding at least one to three summer checks of your system.  Ideally, you would check it once a month to ensure the heads are functioning properly and the program schedule fits the climate conditions.  If you can’t do it monthly, then maybe a few times during the hottest and driest seasons will make a big difference to the health of your landscape and turf. 

We Can Help 

Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can connect you with irrigation specialists that can come and check your system this summer.  They can repair any problems with the system, so you are sure all your plants and your foundation are getting the water they need to survive the summer and the drought.  Call us at (816) 825-2524 to get help managing your landscape this summer.