We have a few more weeks of warm, dry weather ahead of us.
Using proper watering now will help ensure our landscape plants will
remain strong and healthy during the colder temperatures to come.
As pleasant as it may seem, the idea of using the hose to splash water
onto and around plants may not help prepare them for future cold
weather.
There are basically two types of water delivery systems - drip and
sprinkler. The drip system is better suited for plants in containers
and vegetable gardens.
It is important to deliver water deep into the ground so the root
system stays healthy. Use less water by using conventional irrigation
systems. The job is made easier by installing an automatic system
controlled by a timer. The down side of this system is that it is not
entirely trouble free. It is important to watch for broken sprinklers,
clogged drip emitters, etc. (Usually, you become aware of a problem
when you notice a plant that is already stressed.)
It may be necessary to periodically test the water distribution.
An easy method is to place empty cans around the area of concern
(shallow cans such as tuna cans work quite well). This gives you an
idea as to how much water is delivered in a specified amount of time.
The goal is to provide your garden with deep, infrequent watering
which "trains" plants to develop longer roots.
The results of using our water resources correctly is twofold.
Healthier gardens and a reduced water bill. ~ Doris SanFilippo
Landscape Committee
20 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2018
