Mark Brincefield, for the Salisbury Post

In warm weather, container plants will need water every day just to keep them alive, especially window boxes. Lack of rain and low humidity can be a challenge for those with potted plants and a vegetable garden.

Even with afternoon rain showers, irrigation is a way of life for those that want to keep bedding plants, lawns and vegetable alive. The ideal time to irrigate is in the early morning to avoid evaporation during the heat of the day. Avoid irrigating late in the afternoon or at night. Even though late evening and night irrigation provides cooler temperatures, it also the perfect environment for the development of foliar diseases. Use a rain gauge to measure the amount used if you use overhead irrigation to determine if you’re applying a suf

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