Summer watering schedule for cannas in Phoenix, Arizona

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Summer arrives in the Phoenix, Arizona area by the end of May. By the first week of June, it's already blisteringly hot. And it will be that way until the end of August. So it's important to set your watering timer to the summer schedule. By the way, if you don't have an automatic timer, and you're thinking that you will be able to do this by using the hose, you're gonna have a bad time. I can't recommend that.

As you can see from this view behind the cannas, there is a 1/2-inch low-pressure *drip system* water line a few inches from the block wall. The water is sprayed out, very precisely, and at the bottom of the plants, through risers and sprayer heads. They are held firmly in place by the holders, which are pounded in with a hammer. Note that the wall never, ever, gets wet. The whole idea here is to deliver the water exactly where it's needed, and nowhere else.

I keep this area clear to allow access, and to check to be sure that everything is working correctly. I can tell by doing a visual whether a particular area is wet or dry, and the *wiener dog highway*, which is about a foot or so wide, along the block wall, always remains dry.

The timer is set to come on daily for twenty minutes. I also have been doing some hand watering lately for plants elsewhere in the garden that have been very recently planted. By the way, in September, I start stepping down the frequency, and in December and January I turn the watering system completely off. Where I have freesia I do some hand-watering in the winter.


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