In the last few weeks landscapes in Central Texas have come alive with the first substantial rainfall in a long time following last year’s punishing hot and dry summer and fall. Both lawns and landscape plants have been recharged, and now is the time to prepare for summer.

Long, hot days mean higher evaporation in your landscape. Applying a three- to four-inch layer of mulch in your shrub and perennial beds at this time is one of the best things you can do to help your plants survive the summer. Mulch not only helps retain soil moisture, it also keeps the soil cooler, helps combat weed seeds, reduces erosion, and gives your landscape a tidy, finished look. Don’t forget to top dress your lawn with good quality (weed free) compost as well, particularly in areas with poor and shallow soil.

There are many kinds of mulch. Mineral mulches (rock and gravel) really do not help retain soil moisture, but they can be appropriate in native plant areas or rock gardens containing plants that require little water. For other landscape and shrub beds, organic mulches work best. These can be shredded hardwood, bark, straw, pine mulch or even shredded paper. Local hardwood mulch is easiest on the environment because it reduces the need for long-distance transportation.

Once you have mulched the landscape beds, it is important to take a look at your watering practices. Mulched areas require less frequent watering, but deep watering is needed to penetrate mulch and reach the plant root zone below. Set out cans in your beds to see how long it takes to apply one-half to one inch of water. This is how much water will be needed to penetrate the mulch and soil below. Even during the peak of summer, you need not apply more than 1 inch of water per week to your yard.

Soaker hoses and drip irrigation are the most efficient way to water mulched areas because the water is applied beneath the mulch. If you use these devices, you will want to time how long it takes for them to moisten the soil to a depth of six inches.

If you take the time to mulch your landscape, you will be rewarded with healthier, more drought-tolerant plants throughout the summer.