As the dry weather continues, a horticulture expert at the University of Illinois Extension offers some advice about watering. For your lawn and plants, it’s best to water in the morning when less moisture will evaporate says the Extension’s Ken Johnson.
“Typically you want an inch, inch and a half of water, whether that is rain, which we have none, or doing it yourself and you can set a tuna can out or something like that, let that fill up to that inch, inch and a half level. Time that and see about how long you need to run that sprinkler.”
Mulch can really help hold moisture in and Johnson says you can even add mulch to your flower pots. When watering trees, he recommends using a hose set to a drip and placing it about two feet away from the trunk. Then you can move it every 20 minutes for an hour or two to let the roots drink up plenty of water.
***Courtesy of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services***
