Ciscoe Morris: Water is a garden’s best friend

Forecasters say we’re in for the hottest weekend of the
year so far. While sun lovers are quivering with
anticipation, your garden may wilt with dread.

Master Gardener Ciscoe Morris says you’re going to need to
water your plants, especially in pots or containers, a
lot. Maybe even twice a day.

“Stick your finger in the dirt up to the first knuckle,”
he suggests. “Or lift the pot if you can. If it feels
light, you need to water.”

If you have shade-loving plants, like fuchsias or
begonias, that are in the sun, it’s a good idea to move
them into some shade this weekend. But there’s no need
to move them indoors.

“The fuchsia is much happier being outside because there’s
nice humidity and a lot of good things,” Ciscoe says, “but
you better make sure a plant that doesn’t like sun is not
in the sun when we get a hot weekend.”

Ciscoe says the key to watering is taking it slow.
A quick sprinkle isn’t going to do anything but bring the
roots up to the surface where they’ll quickly dry out.

The best kind of sprinkler that puts the water down nice
and slow is the rotor-type, according to Ciscoe. It’s the
one we’ve modeled that horrible dance move after.

Gardening with Ciscoe can be heard on 97.3 KIRO FM
Weekends Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and anytime at KIRO
Radio. Get more
tips from Ciscoe and learn about his plant of the week at
MyNorthwest.com/Ciscoe