How do you know when and how to water your plants during the dog days of summer? Jill DeVries of de Bloemen Hof in Pella, says that when we see our plants stressing, our first instinct is to pour water on the situation. DeVries advises that watering earlier in the day lets the plants hydrate fully to face the hot afternoon, and allows the foliage to dry before nightfall. Also, whenever you water, water deeply until you know the entire root ball has received water. Lastly, DeVries suggests watering when the surface of the soil around the plant feels dry, plants can fool you into thinking they need more water when that’s not the case.