I think the established-plant-only part is key. Very deep watering
once per week was not enough for most of my first year plants here in
Georgia last year. They did well enough in May and June, but the heat
of August was just too much for them.

We just had statewide watering restrictions go into effect on
Wednesday, so now watering is only allowed on three specific days per
week. (That hurt, because I didn't hear which days were my days until
late in the 11 o'clock news on Wednesday night. Who waters on which
day is based on house number, and Thursday is not one of my days.
Friday is off limits for everybody, and I was out of town until 10pm
today, leaving time to do only one of the beds before midnight...)

This summer, I'm planning on two fairly deep waterings for the beds
with new plants and one very deep watering for the established beds.
If that doesn't do the trick, next year I'll probably have to switch
one of the larger beds from roses to daylilies.



On Sat, 29 May 2004 20:57:39 -0400 (EDT), "Shiva"
wrote:

Last year I watered three times a week, fairly deeply.

This year I am pressed for time so I am watering once a week
but very deeply. Making the rounds in a cycle so that there
is time for the water to soak in. (I still use the &%$# hose,
so all is imprecise.)

The roses seem to like it, even though it has been in the
nineties. I like it because if it is Saturday, it must mean
water the roses. However--I should point out that I have no
brand new baby plants; all are 1-5 years in the ground or large
pots.