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Summer appears to have finally arrived, and in a big way. Your trees, plants and lawn have been experiencing cool, moist weather all Spring. They won't get the luxury of an adjustment period this year which would allow them to 'harden off' and become less susceptible to the 90 degree days we have coming up. Likely, they are going to suffer some ill effects. There are a few things you can do to give your garden a little relief.

First, make sure your watering system is turned on and ready to go! This may sound obvious, but I find that many people wait until the first hot day to check their irrigation system, finding out too late that it needs a repair. By the time the system is working, the hot weather has turned the lawn to straw and the plants to sticks.

Second, any plants you've put in the ground within the last 12-24 months need extra water. It takes a year or two for plants to establish themselves fully once planted. In the meantime, they are more likely to suffer from hot weather.

Third, remember that warm temperatures, air movement and sunlight increase water evaporation. Don’t let your money evaporate! Watering is most efficient early in the morning; a second choice is to water in the evening.

And fourth, measure your sprinkler output. Many people don’t know how much water to apply to a lawn. Water can’t be measured in time, as sprinklers and irrigation systems deliver different amounts of water over the same period of time. You can determine your lawn’s proper watering time by letting your sprinklers fill your ProGrass rain gauge (or an empty tuna can) to a half inch, and note how many minutes that takes. Then, water 2-3 times a week for that time. In really hot weather, add a day or two to the schedule.

And, keep in mind that most plants like alternate wet and dry spells. Lawns and most shrubs like to go dry for 2-3 days, and then have a good drink. Watering this way also reduces weed germination in your landscape. However, annual flowers require water at least every other day, so it’s best to plant them in isolated flower beds or large pots. Avoid grouping plants with different water needs together; something will suffer.

Another good source for all sorts of information on watering is the Regional Water Providers Consortium.