Irrigating Herbaceous Ornamentals

Herbaceous ornamentals vary widely in their tolerance to drought. Some perform adequately with a minimum of supplemental water, whereas others require close attention to soil moisture. Irrigation can be provided most efficiently if the plants within a bed have similar water needs. Herbaceous ornamentals generally have a shallower root system than woody ornamentals and are among the first plants in the landscape to show water stress during dry periods. Water these plants once or twice a week and use drip irrigation whenever possible. Be sure to mulch the entire bed area with 3 to 4 inches of organic material.