Thursday Topic: The right way to water your plants

Posted

Do you water in midday, when it’s hot and sunny outside? That’s mistake #1  on the list of the top five improper ways to hydrate your plants; although watering during the day’s hottest hours may seem as if you’re giving your plants a break from Arizona’s scorching sun, the truth is that daytime watering can damage your plants. Do you shower the leaves, but not the roots? That’s also among the top five mistakes -- along with overwatering, watering too often  and neglecting to mulch the soil. Efficient water use is essential in Arizona, and this Thursday (March 4) green-thumbed volunteers from the Payson Community Garden will discuss their irrigation system during this week’s 11 a.m. free online gardening webinar hosted by University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Gila County.
Zoom link for the presentation is  arizona.zoom.us/j/87916496014  and you’re welcome to login up to 10 minutes prior to the webinar. An easy, convenient way to connect is via ‘click here’ direct hotlinks at extension.arizona.edu/gila, where you can also view previous programs from the past year such as ‘Winter Gardening’ and ‘Compost Tea.’ Cooperative Extension’s website has an array of links to programs, talks and resources. Links are also conveniently posted each week on Facebook, where you can join Chris Jones and a network of Gila County gardeners at  facebook.com/gilaextension. Want to be added to an email invite list for these gardening and horticulture workshops? Call Chris Jones, Extension Agent, University of Arizona Gila County Cooperative Extension  at (928) 402-8586 or email ckjones@email.arizona.edu.

“Each week we will continue hosting the spring gardening classes that feature the Payson Community Garden in northern Gila County, and you can watch previous weeks’ presentations archived at extension.arizona.edu/gila,” said Jones. “Join us and learn along with Payson’s community gardeners. Classes include soil building and its great benefits, ways to have healthy plants throughout the garden season, how to keep bugs and disease away, and harvesting at the right time. Presenters will be available for Q&A to discuss applying practices to your situation.”