The weather in Louisiana is taking a warmer turn in the coming days. After fits and spurts of hot and cold, it appears summer-like weather is settling in for the long haul. If you have plants in your garden you’ve been neglecting, now is the time to start tending to them once again. LSU Agriculture Center Horticulturist Dr. Joe Willis says watching your water levels is crucial.
“Once the weather starts to warm up, plants need a lot of water. If it goes a week or so without rain, the plants in the ground are going to need to be watered. If you have plants in containers, watch them closely because they’ll need to be watered every day and some might need to be watered twice a day if they’re in a small enough container,” Willis goes on to advise.
When it comes to the best way to water your plants, Dr. Willis recommends trickling water slowly if the top portion of the dirt feels dry. Making sure the water reaches the roots of your plants and goes deep into the soil should be your priority. “Try to avoid getting water on the foliage if it’s really hot outside because the water on it will burn the foliage acting like a prism. If it’s really humid, water can stay on the leaves and can incite disease,” adds Dr. Willis.