As temperatures climb, three key steps to protect your plants and be waterwise

Outdoor water use in the Phoenix Valley rises significantly as our temperatures climb. Watering correctly, deeply, and less frequently and ensuring your irrigation system is functioning properly, are the keys to maintaining your landscape's health and beauty. While we often think more water is needed, especially with escalating temperatures, that is not always the case. 

Here are three basic guidelines to increase watering efficiency and protect plants and trees during extreme temperatures in our hottest months.

Water Deeper but Infrequently
Excessive heat can harm trees and shrubs, especially young ones that have not had time to grow strong roots. So closely monitor all your plants and trees, even established ones, for signs of stress. When your plants are showing signs of stress, simply increase the watering time so the water can soak deep into the soil, no need to add an extra day. 

Watering your plants more often is tempting in the extreme summer heat, but shrubs and trees do not need to be watered more than twice a week once established. Deep, infrequent watering encourages strong, healthy root systems that can better tolerate intense heat and periods of drought. 

Watering at the correct time is also vital to ensuring healthier plants and less water waste in the hottest months. Make sure you are not watering during the sunniest and hottest hours of the day when water will simply evaporate; instead, aim to water early in the morning - one to three hours before sunrise. And, when we get monsoon activity, turn off your irrigation for a few days. If you have a smart irrigation timer, it should automatically adjust.

Keep an Eye on Your Irrigation System
Another key element to keeping your plants healthy is ensuring your irrigation system is running correctly, especially when the weather intensifies in summer. Your pipes, sprinkler heads, and drip lines are particularly susceptible to extreme weather. Irrigation emitters and lines can clog, crack, or break due to high temperatures, dust, and even rain. So, when your reliable irrigation controller comes on, you want to periodically check your irrigation system to be sure plants are getting water and that gallons of wasted water aren’t pooling or running off your yard into the street. It's as simple as turning on your irrigation system and walking around to inspect that everything is working correctly.

Give Your Plants a Break
With the stress of intense heat, it's best to give your plants some space. In other words, avoid planting, pruning, shearing, and even light trimming when the temperatures are high. Additionally, you should avoid using chemicals, including fertilizer. These activities make your plants more sensitive to the heat and sun and could cause them to take up more water to repair damage and manage the added stress. If you have potted plants, consider relocating them to a cooler and shadier spot in your yard, keeping the pot and root ball out of the direct afternoon sun. 

For more information on outdoor watering, check out this interactive watering guide  created specifically for the Phoenix metro area and its unique conditions. This watering guide walks you through how much and how often to water and shows you how to set your irrigation timer, troubleshoot your system, and many other tips about outdoor watering. 

The AMWUA communities have professional conservation staff dedicated to assisting residents and businesses in efficiently using water. Take a moment to visit your local water conservation office  virtually to explore the resources available, or reach out to your local conservation experts for support.

 As we move forward in times of challenges – warmer and drier climate and shortages on the Colorado River - practical lifestyle changes will positively impact our community's water future. Being wise with our outdoor water use is essential, regardless of the time of year. Ultimately, a water-efficient landscape will save you time, water, and money while better ensuring a sustainable future for all of us here in the desert. 

 For 55 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities’ ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities. For more water information, visit www.amwua.org .