Are you making these watering mistakes? If so, you could be doing more harm than good to your landscape.
Over Watering
Too much water causes excess fungal growth and encourages diseases.
Plants can drown in a matter of minutes or hours (roots suffocate from lack of oxygen)
Symptoms (withering) are the same as under-watering
Watering Too Frequently
Similar to above — encourages fungus and disease
Weakens root systems. Plant & turf roots remain shallow
Plants can't sustain themselves through stress because roots aren't properly developed
Plants learn that they don't have to wait for water
Roots can rot and plant will die
Watering at Night
Nighttime watering DOES give water more time to soak in before it evaporates BUT it also allows it to just sit on the surface, which can contribute to fungal problems
Best Watering Practices
Water early in the morning (between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.). This gives the water time to soak in but allows the soil to dry out quickly enough to minimize fungal problems.
Avoid watering in the mid- or late afternoon.
Water lawns, trees and shrubs deeply each time you water. It’s better to water deeply 1-2 times a week than to water more frequently as this allows the soil to dry out between waterings.