Potted Caladium and Heucheras Need Watering

Backup Watering System

Summer annuals: Hot July – August weather may demand daily or twice-daily watering for container-grown annuals. A trustworthy neighbor may have to handle these chores.

Flowers and vegetables: When there is no rain within a week, water deeply any vegetables that are bearing fruits like tomato, peppers, and squash. Plants will keep producing far into fall if supplied adequate moisture during late-summer dry spells.

Bulbs: Caladiums, cannas, elephant ears, dahlias, and others require deep weekly watering. Lilies, gladiolas, blackberry lilies, crocosmia, pineapple lilies (Eucomis), and others do not need watering.

Lawns: Cool-season grasses such as bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall and red fescues will naturally go dormant. Warm season grasses like burmuda and zoysia tough it out over dry hot spells. Leaf blades turn brown, but green back up when rainfall returns. If you routinely irrigate your lawn during the summer, cutting off water may be devastating. Keep cool season grasses mowed tall, at least 3 inches or more.

Perennials: Most established perennials and ornamental grasses commonly survive moderate dry spells. Most newly planted perennials, planted 6 weeks or more and mulched, should be okay. Water perennials and grasses deeply before leaving on your trip. Shallow rooted ground covers like ferns, astilbes, and some sedges (Carex) should be irrigated by a trustworthy neighbor.

Roses: supply one inch of water per week, either from rainfall or supplied by you. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses irrigate roses without wetting foliage which can trigger disease outbreaks.

Trees and Shrubs: Some species are more drought-tolerant than others. Deeply water newly planted additions before leaving on trip; maintain 2-3 inch mulch layer around the base of young trees and shrubs to hold over trees 2-3 weeks without natural rainfall.

Houseplants: are best left in the hands of a neighbor. Otherwise, repot plants into larger containers. Small pots require more frequent watering. For extended stays away for home, first water plants thoroughly; fill bathtub with a shallow amount of water (to increase humidity). Do not set the base of pots in water. Keep room temperatures cool and reduce direct sunlight.