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| LIFE IN SOLERA | NOVEMBER 2022 | 5 WATERING With California's water shortage, watering is a major concern. In the fall/winter months, our yards do not need as much watering as in the spring/summer months. Our soil is clay and does not absorb water well. At this time of year, sprinklers need to run one or two days a week depending on your lawn. Water between 8 pm and 8 am. If your address is odd numbered - Monday, Wednesday, or Friday are the days you can water. Even numbered addresses water Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. It is recommended to water 4-5 minutes per station, allowing 30-60 minutes between watering cycles so water has a chance to soak in the soil. Check to see if your sprinklers are working correctly. Broken sprinkler heads usually cause a geyser of water. Are your sprinklers making a hissing or weird noise? Are there dry patches? Are the sprinklers watering the lawn and plants or are they watering the driveway and/or street? Have your gardener make the proper adjustments. If you cannot program your irrigation controller (timer/clock), ask your gardener, neighbor, or friend to help you. When we have a good rain, turn off your sprinklers the next day. We need to conserve as much as possible. If you want to plant a tree, fall and spring is the time to plant. Trees in containers should be carefully removed and inspected prior to planting. Check to ensure the roots are not root-bound and gently spread the roots apart. On average, holes should be about two or three times as wide as the root ball and slightly shallower. It's also a good idea to roughen up the sides and bottom of the hole to make it easier for the tree's roots to penetrate the soil. Since the soil is clay, the soil should be amended with 50 percent compost/soil booster and 50 percent native soil, which will give the tree a healthy boost of fertilizer. Fill in around the tree only up to the root crown. Never leave any tree roots showing, as they will quickly dry up. Tamp gently as you go, but try not to compress too hard as it will become more difficult for water to reach the roots. If necessary, you may need to stake the tree in place temporarily until the roots take hold. Water the tree thoroughly and cover the area with 2 to 4 inches of mulch, staying a couple of inches shy of the trunk all around. In general, you should irrigate deeply and slowly, providing enough water to penetrate at least the top 12 inches of soil. Soaker hoses work well for this, as does running a hose slowly for an extended length of time. If the site is level, form a basin around the tree's drip-line to keep water around the tree. Design Review Committee

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