Water Wise Gardening

With thousands of plants including trees, shrubs, and perennials tucked into twelve gardens, the key to keeping them adequately watered is scheduling. I use the Excel program to keep the gardens on an every-fourth-day schedule; the gardens are labeled by their predominant planting. All but two gardens are on soaker hoses, so by just barely having the water on, I can leave it to run overnight, and the garden is thoroughly watered by the next morning. Regardless of windy conditions, the water is delivered right to the soil where it's needed. This system also keeps water off the flowers which keeps them happier and blooming much longer. The back lawn is on a programmable timer to run with two-twenty minute cycles at night. The three-tiered design includes flat surfaces with two short transitions. We installed a water meter to measure water use from the well and typically use 25,000 gallons through July and again in August. While newly planted (this season) plants require more frequent watering to succeed, we feel a thorough soaking, applied on a regular schedule through the heat of summer works best.

Summer Thyme

I have started harvesting the fruits and veggies planted this season and last; the raspberries are a special treat. I am watering the tomatoes and peppers everyday right along with the other container gardens and the plants are doing much better this year than last when they were on an every-other-day watering schedule. I have been trying to remember to use herbs as often as possible in salads and other recipes to add a little zing to the flavor. Lemon thyme is great on chicken and fish. Chopped mint, lemon balm, or basil is great for salads. I bought a basil plant at Raleys the other day...at $3.99 for a plant in a 6" pot!!! Yahoo! I don't care too much for dried herbs and have found that freezing works out much better. I chop up the herbs in the processor, add a little olive oil, and spoon the mixture into an ice cube tray. Freeze, then lower the tray down into warm water for a few seconds, just low enough to warm the cubes so they release, then pop the cubes into a freezer bag. When I'm making a sauce or marinade, a cube is usually just the right amount needed. Fresh or frozen, herbs are a great garden plant. Enjoy! 

Rainy Days

I'm always surprised by summer rains after weeks of dry, hot weather. And not just a few light showers, but a downpour that lasted for a while. Nice break from the heat and daily watering. Know it won't last, so I'm enjoying it while it's here. Will be staying out of the gardens a few days since we have fairly heavy soils (clay) and mucking around in them will cause damage from compaction. Perfect time for weeding along the edges though and walkways/areas with gravel or bark mulch. A few years ago we offered and planted a Geranium call 'Johnson's Blue' not knowing that the plants are prolific re-seeders, and now we have "baby blues" popping up everywhere. I've learned to cut the plants back before they set seed, and pull seedlings while they're small. I can't get myself to pull the Viola popups though...they're just too cute! I've also started stocking up on bagged mulch, compost, and manure. Next month I'll start cutting back the gardens...even though it's just now starting to feel like summer. I mix and toss organic matter over the cutback gardens to "feed" the soil for next spring. Bagged products cost more, but are easier to work with and store than bulk. Enjoy the cool and rain...while it lasts!