Summer Watering Tips

Focus on recently planted trees and shrubs: These can easily wilt or die without enough water and require more care than annuals, which have shallower root systems. Scott Guiser, senior extension educator at Bucks County's Penn State Cooperative Extension, recommends watering once or twice a week with patience and persistence. Guiser recommends between five and 15 gallons per tree using a hose with a slow, steady trickle. Thoroughly saturating a recently planted medium-size tree should take about a half-hour, he said. Because the ground is particularly dry right now, softening the soil first is necessary to ensure that the water reaches its target.

Use a hose, not a sprinkler: During the day, 50-percent of water from a sprinkler will evaporate before it hits the plant, said Mike Marrazzo, owner of Marrazzo's Manor Lane in Lower Makefield. He discourages landscapers from watering lawns. Not only is it "kind of a losing battle with evaporation," it's expensive and unnecessary because once the rain comes, "the grass will green right back up," he said.

Water in the morning: That's when there is less light intensity and evaporation, said Mark Faccenda, general manager at Feeney's Nursery, Inc. in Lower Southampton. Watering at night can incur bacterial or fungal problems due to the combination of water and darkness, he said. Soaking the leaves of plants can cause similar problems, he added, so it's important to only saturate the base.

According to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a 2- to 4-inch layer will conserve water, reduce regrowth of weeds and grass, keep roots cooler and prevent soil compaction.

According to Marrazzo, battery-operated timers that attach to hoses are a great option for people who are often too busy to properly water.

Gator Bags: These plastic sacks can be filled with water and placed at the base of a tree, providing a slow and steady trickle. Rick Brase, manager at Fairless Hills Garden Center in Falls, also recommends deep root feeders, syringe-like spikes that attach to a hose and send water directly to a plant's roots.