As we head into August and the temperatures are sure to stay high up on the thermometer, it is a good time to talk about watering containers. Anytime I hear someone say that they never have any luck with keeping their containers alive and looking beautiful, I almost always know the culprit. The containers in question were probably not getting enough water.
A fact that many people do not realize is that outdoor containers need to be watered daily. And if temperatures are going to be in the upper 80Fs or higher, you really should be watering two times a day. Often time people ask if they can overwater their outdoor containers. As long as the container has good drainage, it is nearly impossible to overwater them in the summer.
The best time to water your containers is the same as the best time to water your lawn a garden beds, either in the early morning or the early evening. Watering in the early morning or early evening ensures that the potting soil will be able to absorb the maximum amount of water before it starts to evaporate again.
Speaking of potting soil, did you know that your potting soil can actually start to repel water if you allow it to dry out too much? It’s true. If you accidentally allow your outdoor container to get too dry, you may want to soak it in order to force the potting soil to start absorbing water again. This can be done by placing the container; soil, plant and all; in a tub of water and letting it sit for 20 minutes or so. Ideally, the water should come up over the soil but if you do not have a tub that deep even setting the container in a few inches of water for an hour or two will allow the water to wick its way back into the soil.
So, if you have always dreamed of having lush and full containers but were never sure how that happened, now you know. Daily or even twice daily watering is the key to having the most beautiful containers on the block.
