Gardening is one of life's most fulfilling and nurturing endeavors. It can be challenging to get it all right, though, especially when all our plants have different needs and care requirements. Knowing when to feed, prune, mulch, and divide your garden is time-consuming enough without having to worry about your plants' individual watering schedules. That's why we've put together this guide full of the best watering tips for Utah gardens and landscapes: to help you keep your garden healthy and your water consumption under control without all the headaches!
The Best Watering Tips for Utah Gardens
The best way to keep your garden's watering needs on track and improve your water consumption and overall plant performance is to ensure you're grouping your plants according to their similar watering needs. Many perennials and wildflowers, for instance, are drought-tolerant plants and can be planted together in a perennial border or container garden, while annuals should be grouped with water-loving plants—like hydrangeas—due to their higher water demands. Not only does this ensure everyone gets what they need, but you also won't give soggy feet to plants that like it dry and hot!
Keep in mind that container plants and hanging baskets will need more water than plants grown in the ground, especially in hot, dry weather. During Utah's extreme heat waves, move your containers and hanging plants out of direct sun to prevent too much moisture from evaporating out of the soil. For garden beds, mulching will help your soil retain moisture and reduce the need to water frequently during our frequent droughts.
When watering your flower beds, veggie gardens, and containers, make sure you soak their roots, not their leaves. Water containers and hanging baskets until water drips from the bottom, and try to water in the early morning or late evenings to avoid evaporation.
What is The Best Way to Water My Utah Lawn?
Your lawn might take a beating during the drier months, and gardeners are often tempted to keep their sprinklers running to achieve that lush, green look. As a general rule, however, the average Utah lawn only needs about 1-2 inches of water per week in the spring and 2.5-3 inches in the summer. Make sure you water your lawn early in the morning to give its roots more time to absorb any moisture before the sun's heat dries it up. Also, pay attention to the soil under your grass to make sure you're not overwatering some areas. Don't be fooled by your lawn's color; even dry, brown grass can sometimes have wet soil underneath.
The Rest of the Best: More Top Watering Tips for Utah Landscapes
To keep your lawns and gardens supplied with a high-quality water supply all season, we recommend collecting rainwater in rain barrels during the wetter months. Rainwater contains more oxygen than tap water, among other benefits, making it the best choice for your plants. Nobody waters better than mother nature, after all! Try placing a water barrel near a downspout to catch water runoff and use it in your garden's irrigation systems throughout Utah's sweltering summers.
Another great tip to ensure your garden gets what it needs is to set up a timed, automatic irrigation system, especially for larger gardens where access can be difficult or for landscapes that are left unattended for extended periods of time. Automatic irrigation systems are also a great way to schedule separate watering schedules for different parts of your garden, ensuring optimal watering levels for each section of your landscape, whether you're home or not. Overhead sprinklers are fine for grass lawns, but make sure you install sprinklers close to the ground for flower beds so water will reach the base of your plants and not get trapped in spreading, fanning foliage.
These watering tips for Utah gardens and lawns are also excellent guidelines for keeping your landscapes thriving no matter the weather. If you ever find yourself in doubt about your watering schedule or a specific plant's needs, stop by our garden center in Salt Lake City, UT, for some friendly advice to help your landscape make it through Utah's dry summers!