‘1-2-3-2-1’ watering program makes it easy
But monitor your plants to be sure they really need the moisture, and don’t apply it between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Q: I remember there is some sort of “watering calendar” that we’re supposed to be using when it comes watering our landscaping but can’t remember the schedule. How does it go? — C.G., Albuquerque
A: The City of Albuquerque and the County of Bernalillo have a program to guide us through the watering conundrum we face here in this area. It’s referred to as the “1-2-3-21” guidance program.
It’s suggested that the months of January through March you water, thoroughly and only if necessary, once a week. The months of April and May that watering schedule is bumped up to twice weekly water. Again making sure your plantings are in need. For the months of June, July and August you bump up to three waterings weekly.
September comes and through the end of October watering should be reduced to twice a week. During the dormant periods of November until the following January you ramp down to the once-a-week watering. That’s it. 1-2-3-2-1!
So now we’re in the first “2” of the suggested schedule. As long as your landscape needs it you’ll be watering twice a week. If you can get away with less … do. If you’ve something in the landscape that is newly planted, then by all means you’ll be offering water far more frequently until that creature has established.
Now I’m not saying that pots and beds won’t need more water, they will, but for truly established landscaping twice weekly water, this time of year, should be adequate.
Know, too, that the time of day you water is “mandated.” Please resist spray watering from 11 a.m. until after 7 p.m. since those hours are the most useless hours when it comes to watering. Either the wind is blowing your water everywhere but where it’s needed or it evaporates so quickly that it isn’t absorbed into the soil and utilized by the plant-life!
If you continually water wastefully between those hours, stern warnings can and should be issued, so remember to water “smart”! For the time being, twicea-week water is the ticket. OK?!
Q: I hung two bougainvillea out doors last weekend and was caught completely off guard with Wednesday night/Thursday morning’s cool temperatures! Have the bougainvillea been harmed? How will I be able to tell? — H.L., Westside Albuquerque
A: I, too, was scrambling on Wednesday evening getting a couple of newly planted and hanging fuchsia plants under cover being surprised at the impending chill! As far as being able to know if your bougainvillea were “harmed,” only time will tell.
Are the leaves crumpled? If so, they are damaged and might not come back. The best thing to do will be watch the weather and get the plants under cover if the night time temperatures take another large dip like we just had. I’m going to protect, nightly for a few weeks yet, my hanging pots so I don’t lose my investments.
Second thought will be, after you’re convinced that those leaves are done in, give the plant a bit of a trimming. Carefully snip away any of the damaged leaves to get the plants tidy again. If the damage is severe enough snip off a bit less than a third of each arm or stem so the plants are able to push new growth without having to deal with the cold-damaged ends.
Keep the plants adequately watered, not too much but certainly not being allowed to dry out completely, and jump if necessary to offer protection during this variable weather. I’d suggest waiting to apply fertilizer, too. Allow the plants a chance to re-group before pushing them too much just now.
Hopefully by the end of the month your protection offered and properly maintained bougainvillea will be ready to face the rest of our growing season! Happy Diggin’ In!
Need tips on growing your garden? Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send your garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103, or to features@abqjournal.com.