Moisture and mulches are important topics to keep in mind when tending a summer garden, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

"Think about using organic mulches in the vegetable garden," said Ron Wolford. "Mulches help to hold moisture in the soil and reduce weeds. Organic mulches include compost, shredded bark, leaves, pine needles, cocoa bean hulls, and dried grass.

"Avoid using grass clippings that have been treated with pesticides."

As the organic mulch decays, it adds nutrients to the soil and helps to improve soil structure and drainage.

"Apply a two- to three-inch layer of mulch around plants," he said. "Another application of mulch may need to be added later in the season. Dig mulch into the soil at the end of the growing season."

Wolford recommended using a rain barrel to collect rainwater for use in the garden.

"Rain barrels collect water from downspouts on homes instead of having the water flow into sewer systems," he said. "A one-half inch rainfall will fill a 50- to 55-gallon barrel.

"Water your trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetables, and houseplants with the collected water. One inch of rain over 1,000 square feet of area yields 623 gallons. Rainfall at the rate of one inch per hour will yield about 10 gallons per minute per 1,000 feet."

Vegetables should be watered with the equivalent of one inch of water per week. Watering deeply--eight to 10 inches--will promote deep root development. This will help vegetables tolerate drought periods.

Fertilizer applied around vegetables needs to be dug into the soil. Applying fertilizer to dry soil can cause fertilizer burn. Water the fertilized vegetables.

"Vegetables need on average an inch of moisture per week," Wolford said. "Place a few straight-sided containers in the garden when watering with an overhead sprinkler. An inch of water in the containers is an indication your garden has received the inch it needs."

Apply a two to four-inch layer of organic mulch around trees and shrubs. Mulch the area under the tree to its drip line.

"The drip line is the circle that could be drawn on the soil around a tree directly under the tips of its outermost branches," he explained. "Keep the mulch four to six inches away from the base of the tree or shrub to prevent rot.

"As the mulch decomposes, it can be dug into the soil, thereby adding nutrients to the soil and improving soil structure."

Lawns need about 1-1/2 inches of water per week to maintain a green color. Homeowners should decide whether or not to let the lawn go dormant during hot, dry summer weather.

"Do not let the lawn go dormant and then start watering again to 'green' it up," he cautioned. "This practice uses large amounts of the grass's food reserves."

Lawns should be watered early in the day and not between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

"This is the hottest part of the day and you will lose 50 percent of the water applied," he said. "Evening watering increases the chance of disease problems."

During the summer when grass growth slows, the lawn should be mowed at a three-inch height. Lawns mowed at a higher height during the summer will have fewer weed problems and deeper roots.

"Mowing too close just invites weeds," he said. "Don't mow the grass when it is wet and never remove more than one-third of the grass leaf in any one cutting.

"If you mow your lawn on a regular basis, you do not need to collect the clippings. Clippings are 75 to 80 percent water and will decompose down into the lawn. Clippings have some nitrogen content, so less fertilizer is necessary."

Source: Ron Wolford, Unit Educator, Urban Horticulture and Environment, rwolford@uiuc.edu