Care in the hot summer.

Watering trees and bushes in summer: How to water plants during the hottest time of their life

There is no life without water! This also applies to the garden. You won’t get a proper harvest if you don’t pay attention to your trees and shrubs in terms of watering. Rainfall is a good thing, of course, and when the summer is rainy, watering can be kept to a minimum. But often in the summer, moisture is still in short supply. We will talk about how to water trees and shrubs in the garden on the homestead plot.

Table of Contents

Why is proper summer watering important?

1. The first month of summer is a time of active growth of young shoots, flowering and growth of ovaries.
2. Midsummer is usually the period when the buds are laid on the shoots of the current year. This is essentially the month in which the next year’s crop will be formed.
3. The last month of summer is the period of development, ripening, and preparation for harvesting the fruit.

The plant is actively consuming nutrients from the ground and can consume them dissolved in water. A sense of moisture during this important time for plants also marks a wealth of nutrition for the plants. Therefore, they will grow well and form full growth forces. And this is the key to the next season! Trees are in full bloom and retain maximum ovaries from which to produce fruit and berries (i.e., the current season’s harvest).

In addition, it has been noted that if the plant had enough moisture in the summer and was not stressed due to its lack, the harvest is higher and the system will survive the winter better. And a good overwintering for a tree is like a good night’s sleep for a person: a guarantee of health! This means that the immunity of the plant in the next season will be higher and there will be less chance of damaging it.

A word of caution

Plants deprived of sufficient moisture and nutrition often suffer from pest invasions, so watering is essential.

How to water fruit trees of different ages in summer

Watering is very important, but you need to do it right. There must be a measure, because the root system of plants is different: it is usually comparable to the size of the crown. You have to inspect the system and understand what the approximate size of the root system of a particular system is.

If the tree or shrub is still young and small (for example, just planted seedlings), then this plant has not yet had time to form a powerful root system, so it does not need much moisture. The plant has nothing to absorb a significant amount of moisture, and as a result, water just stagnates at the roots. Not discriminating, giving a boy or an old plant the same amount of water, they do not benefit their “pets”, but harm.

How often and in what volumes it is necessary to water fruit trees in the summer

1. The phase of active growth. Often falls in the first summer months. It can end either a little earlier or a little later, which can be due to cool weather (then the growth of shoots is usually prolonged) or vice versa (then the growth of shoots ends earlier). Now all plants, without exception, need to be watered. If it does not rain for a long time, a bucket of water should be poured every three days under trees older than five years, especially stone fruit trees. Under younger apples and pears – either once a week by a bucket of water, or every three days – half a bucket;
2. Flowering. Depending on the crop, it can occur at different times, but usually blooms (like apple trees) end in June. Now you can either pour out a bucket of water every three days or, if the plant is young, half a bucket every three days. Or a full bucket once a week;
3. The period of ovary formation. It falls in June or early July – in fact, the culture here does not matter. As soon as the flowering ends and the last leaf of the flower falls, the ovary begins to form and develop. Lack of moisture at this time, especially in apple trees, leads to mass detachment of ovaries, and you do not get a good harvest. At this time, you can increase the rate – pour a bucket of water every other day (if the plant is fully grown), half a bucket every other day or a bucket every three days (if it is young);
4. Time of ripening, harvesting or active fruit growth (if it is a variety of apples and pears with later ripening). This is an important time in August. Moisture is also very important now, so in summer you should water the trees every other day with about a bucket of water, or half a bucket if it is a young plant.

The 4 summer periods for watering shrubs are

1. The active growth phase. It often occurs during the first summer months and first half of summer. It can end a little earlier or a little later, which is prolonged in cool weather (then stimulated growth) or vice versa due to hot weather (then stimulated growth earlier) can be. If there is a lack of moisture, the shoots of shrubs can hardly grow, which will reduce the next year’s harvest.

Note!

Now shrubs should be watered without exception. If there is no rain for a long time, shrubs older than three years should be poured 7-8 liters of water. Younger bushes – once a week for 7-8 liters of water or once every three days for 3-4 liters of water.

1. Flowering. Depending on the culture, it can come at different times, but usually ends with flowering and shoot growth in June. Now you can also water, and the rate can be increased: either a bucket of water every three days, or, if the bush is young, half a bucket or a full bucket every three days – once a week;
2. The period of ovary formation. This usually occurs in June or early July, e.g. snowdrop, sea buckthorn, dog rose. As soon as flowering ends and flower petals fall off, ovaries begin to form and develop on the shrubs. Lack of moisture at this time leads to mass replacement of ovaries. You will definitely not get a good harvest. At this time you can increase your watering rate. Water 7-8 L of water every other day (if the bush is fully grown), 3-4 L of water every other day, or 7-8 L every three days (if the bush is young). Many plants begin to mature in July, so water in the same pattern;
3. Ripening, harvesting or active growth of fruits (if we are talking about late-ripening berries – say, dogwood and the like). It falls in mid-July and early August for most berries. It lasts until the end of the month, as in matron, rose hips and similar plants. Humidity is also very important. Therefore, after two days or 6-7 liters of water, if it is a young plant, you need to water about 11-15 liters of water.

Important!

Conifers also need watering. Usually they are watered in hot weather. Once a week is enough. Required in the air zone (after a bucket of water). Additional watering is usually not required. But if the needles are covered with dust, it is quite possible to wash them in the evening.

Modern watering processes

The most modern irrigation is drip irrigation. It will save you time and effort. All you have to do is put a container outside, stretch drip lines from it, and turn on the watering. The water drips directly into the tree or shrub bed and slowly moistens the trees and shrubs.

Watering can be improved by installing timers, sensors that respond to light, temperature, moisture and soil. This means you can automate watering as much as possible, control it remotely through a smartphone, or leave it to smart electronics to manage. You can make a mixer in the watering path if needed, add fertilizer and dissolve it in the water with it.

5 important rules for watering trees and shrubs in the summer

1. It is best to water with water temperature in the morning or evening.
2. Water when the soil is dry. If it has rained heavily, the procedure should be postponed, and if it is only drizzling, it should be done.
3. Try watering under a shrub or tree. You can do this by making small holes or pits and pour the necessary amount of water into them to moisten the soil deep down and not make the top layer soggy.
4. For beginners who doubt whether to water trees in the summer, we would advise to taste the degree of moisture of the soil with their fingers – so the moisture can be felt well. You can dig a little soil and assess how the soil of your plot (and it can be different) absorbs moisture. Once you have this knowledge, you will be able to adjust moisture rates.
5. After watering, it is a good idea to mulch the soil. You can use peat or humus, a layer of 1-2 centimeters is enough: they retain moisture, normalize the soil temperature and slow down the growth of weeds.

A word of caution

You can water with sprinkler spatulas, but only in the evening hours, giving the moisture time to evaporate before the sun appears.

Common mistakes when watering fruit trees and berry bushes

1. “Pseudo-watering.” The most common mistake is when a person goes out with a hose, watering trees and shrubs, thinking that the plants are enough. In fact, he is only wetting the top of the soil. The moisture simply evaporates, and the plants do not grow any more;
2. Neglect of weather conditions. Another mistake is when a gardener does not take environmental conditions into account. Let’s say it is raining, but he is still watering, thereby saturating the soil with moisture.
3. Watering by the leaf in the heat. Many people think they help plants by cooling them down. However, watering with ice-cold water in the heat causes the plant to get a shock from the temperature difference, and the small droplets on the leaves, evaporating, cause burns.

If you now know how often to water trees in summer and how to do it correctly, you will be able to provide your “pets” with pleasant conditions for growth, and yourself – a rich harvest!

Other interesting articles about growing shrubs and trees:

How you can make a device out of apple trees and pear trees in the summer: A Detailed Step of the g-Description _____________________________________________________________________? Share your experience with other gardeners in the comments!

Plants have been decimated by the heat; they need our help. Important tips for taking care of abnormal heat

With the onset of abnormal heat, everyone suffers and plants included. Not enough water, not enough strength, how to save the representatives of the flora?

Tips for caring for plants in hot and dry weather:

1. If possible, all plants should be shaded. Of course, it is impossible to cover the whole garden, but at least some of the plants can be saved from fallen plants. All nets with small and large cells are available today. If everyone has long been used to the heat in southern regions, you will have to pull the net through the plantings in the new product. If there are no nets, you can use the thinnest covering material, hanging it from the sunny side. No covering material, gauze or old tulle folded in 2 layers will do.
2. In the heat the plants catastrophically lack moisture, it is actively evaporated by the leaves. Normal and abundant watering is needed. If the air temperature rises above the prohibitive values (+35-37 ° C), water daily and preferably in the morning and evening. To facilitate the work, gardeners should mulch the beds. The temperature of the open ground at noon can reach more than +50 ° C. A thick layer of mulch (7-10 cm) can reduce the temperature in the basal zone by 10 ° C. It is advisable to water in the morning, because in the evening after sunset, the soil cools down for a long time. Once the moisture gets on the hot ground, it evaporates immediately.
3. In the morning, water is absorbed more quickly, does not overheat, and evaporates more slowly. It is important to water at 6 a.m., or even better at 5 a.m.
4. Many experts do not recommend spraying in hot weather. However, spraying plants in hot weather allows you to wash away the dust that keeps the stomata of the leaves from breathing. Water getting on the leaf cools it down. Review should never be done in the sun, it can be done in the shade or in artificially shaded plantings. Water left on the leaf in the sun is sure to leave burns. Do not use sprinkling in the evening when cold nights are expected (temperatures below +15 °C). Increased humidity in cool weather threatens cucumbers, tomatoes, roses and many other crops with the development of fungal infections.

1. In hot weather, plants need additional nutrition. It is best to apply fertilizer under the leaf. Nutrient solutions can be poured under the root, but only with the floor tucked away first. All upper roots in dry soil can simply burn if the fertilizer penetrates. Leaf feedings work better and faster. The plant absorbs as much nutrition as it just needs. You should prefer foliar fertilizers with trace elements, where there is more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen (Plantafeed 5:54:10 or 5:15:45, Plantophol 5:15:45, Hackathos 13:40:13). If possible, it is better to change the fertilizer every 7-10 days. It is recommended to add any growth stimulant, such as B. epin or succinic acid, to the feed. Such additives allow members of the flora to survive the stressful situation caused by heat and drought.

What shouldn’t you do in the heat?

Never use cold tap water for watering, it, like hot water, has an adverse effect on the roots. Some sensitive cultures (peppers, eggplant, cucumbers) temperature difference of 10-13 ° C leads to the death of young roots. The optimal water temperature for irrigation is + 18-25 ° C. Even the lawn cannot withstand watering with cold water, because. It has a surface bark system.

You should not water plants with a small amount of water. So you can moisten only a few centimeters of soil. Roots that are deep in the ground get less moisture and then come to the surface. In the heat it is very important to moisten the floor deeply, so you should not save water. It is necessary that moisture reaches the root layer (20-25 cm).