The best ways to water plants, including when you go on vacation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – You'd think watering your plants would be easy, but not everyone does it correctly.

Wallitsch Gardens wants to help you get it right and has the most effective way to water you garden.

It’s best to water in the morning. That way the plant has enough time to soak it all up before it dries out in the heat of the day.
If you can’t water in the morning, still water when you can.
Make several passes. Water all your plants and then go back and water them all again to make sure the water gets deep to the roots.
Container plants typically need to be watered more than in-ground plants.
Always water at the base of the plant. The ground needs the moisture, not the top of the plant.

“Where the plants soak up the moisture is in the root system. So it's always important when you're watering, to water the ground or the soil if it's in a container," said Jeff Wallitsch. "That way you're going to have less disease throughout the summer because if the water sits on there and it starts to get hot and humid, that can build up powdery mildew and mold and things like that."

Don't let all your hard work go to waste when you go on vacation. When you head out of town, there are a few items to help water your plants while you’re gone.

Get a soaker hose and nestle it among your plants. It will slowly leach water into the ground.
Get a timer for the hose so you can program it to turn on and off at specific times.
Use terra cotta watering spikes for containers.
Use watering bags for young trees.

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