Check the weather—It may seem shocking that now is the time to start watering but its true. Here in the rainshadow there may be drizzle, but often if you poke the soil you will notice how shallow the moisture extends. The Dept of Ecology has announced a statewide drought emergency due to the low snowpack. although we currently have a dry forecast, El Niño is rapidly changing into La Niña so the forecast may change.
Cultural practices
Avoid overhead watering that can spread fungal disease. Water the root zone. Water in the morning.
Drip irrigation and low-water options
- Avoid water splash from soil. Prevent the spread of phytophthera of tomatoes
- Prune for air circulation, avoid overcrowding, learn how large plants will grow.
- Prepare beds with compost. Home-made or bought. Spread 1”-3” deep.
- Handy tool for determining how much your garden can use;
- Monitor for pests
- Tent caterpillars, winter moth, European sawfly on currants,
- Vegetable starts; plant the hot season cucurbits and tomato, peppers and basil.
- Plant dahlia tubers: Late summer here is often warm and dry providing dhalias with the perfect weather to display their amazing variety of flower shapes and colors.
- Spring-flowering bulbs: This time of years the daffodils and tulips and smaller bulbs can look tired. Keep them healthy by removing the spent flower to prevent the plant from making seeds. We want all the energy going into nourishing the bulb, so let the foliage remain until it dries out completely. If you are a real neatnik who enjoys labor-intensive gardening that can be relaxing and meditative, consider braiding the narrow foliage of daffodils and snowdrops. To avoid big gaps when the foliage is gone, consider interplanting with native bleeding heart, Chinese for-get-me-not, or love-in-a mist, calendula or annual poppies.
- Stake Perennials
Sustainable Garden Design 