Brian Minter's 3 tips for watering your garden in hot, dry weather
It may seem like a simple task, but there’s more to watering plants than meets the eye
The spring planting season is taking root, but the conditions have been incredibly dry across many parts of B.C.
With the usual rainfall around most of the province yet to make an appearance, gardening in dry conditions could be tricky.
Master gardener Brian Minter joined BC Almanac's Gloria Macarenko to share his three tips for watering your garden when the rain is sparse.
1. Make sure to water well
"When we water, water well. Water your plants so that it actually penetrates deep into soil," says Minter.
It may seem obvious, but Minter says often gardeners will only water their plants a couple inches deep. He says it's important to make sure the water goes at least four to six inches deep so the roots can take full advantage.
2. Timing is key
For the gardener who works the nine to five, 40-hour week, it may seem the only time to water one's plants is after work in the evenings. Unfortunately that's not ideal for plants.
"Plants can waste water. If you water late in the evening, plants tend to transpire a good amount of that water away and waste it."
"Early in the morning is when the sun goes up and the temperatures on the rise. It will allow the plants to make the most of the water."
3. Don't be afraid to let the lawn go brown
The California drought — and recently the one in Washington state — is a sharp reminder to not take water for granted in our province. Minter says if the water stays sparse, prioritize where that water goes. He says the lawn is the first place to look when cutting out water use.
"Lawns will tolerate drought, especially the new types of perennial ryegrasses. It's better to use your water on foods and colourful flora that will make your garden look better."
"Lawns recover beautifully and are able to tolerate a drought. If we get good June rain they'll bounce back just fine."
Read more of Brian Minter's tips: