Keeping trees watered is cheaper than replacing them

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The heat is blistering - and many of us have decided to shut our sprinklers down and let the lawns go dormant. Watering your trees, shrubs, landscape and foundation is still essential.

If you don't have a sprinkler system with zones for your foundation and trees, you'll need to use an oscillating sprinkler to make sure you are watering a wide enough path around trees and shrubs. Keep in mind tree roots can spread 20 or 30 feet out from the trunk in all directions. Remember,  in these high temperatures trees and plants need at least two inches of water per week.

Mulch is critical at this point. If you haven't mulched around your foundation or your plantings you're really going to have a lot of trouble. It is definitely going to become an issue. Mulch is important because it allows the plants to transpire properly and keeps the roots from getting hot and being unable to take up water. But most importantly, it allows an even drying out of the soil.

With the hot dry weather nurseries have plants on sale right now and  you can plant as long as you take care of them. Be sure and water them well.  We'll see you next week.