Keeping Plants Hydrated
August in Marin is hot and dry, with frequent warm afternoon winds. The heat and drying winds can deplete plants of moisture, making them more susceptible to ignition during a fire. Sustained gusty winds with very low humidity create extreme wildfire risk, often prompting Red Flag Warnings from the National Weather Service. It’s essential to monitor your garden during dry months to ensure your plants stay sufficiently hydrated.
How to Determine If Your Plants Need Water?Over-watered and under-watered plants can exhibit similar signs of stress, as overwatering can
cause the plant’s roots to rot, preventing adequate nutrient and water uptake to the stems and
leaves. To determine if your plant needs water, look for above-ground clues, such as wilting,
drooping, or yellowing leaves, and then check the soil around the root zone for moisture. If the
soil is moist, you may be overwatering.
Assessing Plants -Consider the Time of Day:
Your plant’s health may appear different at various times of day and under different weather
conditions.Morning: Plants exhibiting water deficiencies in the morning should receive additional water
before the day’s heat and wind further deplete them.
Afternoon/Evening: Plants evaporate water through their leaves as a cooling mechanism.
During very high-temperature days, a well-watered plant may appear water-stressed because it
cannot absorb water from the soil fast enough to offset the water lost through evaporation. Check
these plants the next morning. You may not need to increase your watering schedule unless the
high temperatures continue.
Irrigation Strategies:
Water established trees deeply and less frequently to promote deep roots, which helps them
develop greater drought tolerance.
Check new and young plantings more frequently. Most will need extra water for the first few
years until they become established.
Apply mulch according to fire-smart guidelines to moderate soil temperatures and reduce
water loss through evaporation.
Invite a Marin Master Gardener to your garden through the Marin Garden Walks program.
Marin Garden Walks is a partnership between UC Marin Master Gardeners and Marin Municipal
Water District to provide homeowners in Marin with information and advice on improving their
irrigation practices to help conserve Marin’s precious water resources.
By keeping your garden hydrated, healthy, and properly spaced, you help decrease the likelihood
of a wildfire igniting and rapidly spreading toward your home.
