Fall Watering in Southern California Gardens: 7 Tips

Temperature fluctuations typical of fall in Southern California can make watering garden plants a challenge. Here are a few guidelines:

1. Monitor plants during heat waves. Watering needs may be highly variable depending upon seasonal temperature fluctuations and heat waves.
2. Reduce or eliminate watering to spent garden areas as plants die back during Indian Summer and following harvest or removal.
3. Spot water by hand to meet the full range of plant needs in your garden at this time of year, from new sprouts to scattered surviving and productive mature plants.
4. Be aware of the different watering needs of your plants. For example, vegetables typically have very different watering needs than California natives.
5. Water as infrequently as possible while avoiding any wilting. Overwatering, watering with sprinklers, or routinely wetting foliage may significantly increase pest and disease problems.
6. Watch for earliest signs of wilting in sensitive plants to signal watering intervals for the entire garden.
7. Spray or rinse foliage gently once every 2 to 3 weeks to remove dust and airborne pollutants.

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Other articles of interest:

Chlorine, Soil, and Watering Gardens (Chlorinated Water, Part 1 of 2)

Remove Chlorine When Watering Organic Gardens (Chlorinated Water, Part 2 of 2)