| As summer heats up and water
supplies begin to be questioned. Some water utilities will no
doubt use restrictions to help cut water usage. The problem
never seems to be that anyone is wasting water until they are using to
keep their plants alive. To help ease the pain of summer
gardening, everyone needs to work with local water boards to insure
that water supply is keeping pace with population growth and show just
how important it is to the health of the community to have water
available for gardening. We can all help by learning the bare
needs of the plants we grow and turn off the automatic timers.
Most plants produce better root systems if they are not watered to
often. Experiment with any supplemental watering and see just
how much is necessary for healthy growth.
Most lawn grasses require 1/2 - 1 inch of
water per week to thrive. But the grass can survive on just 1/4
inch per week, though this will lead to lawns going dormant - it will
survive.
Annuals and perennials require water more
frequently than lawns. Ether using hand watering or drip
irrigation can reduce water usage and applies it directly where it is
needed. Use of a mulch around plants will reduce water loss due
to evaporation.
Trees and shrubs should only need watering
if they are new and roots are not established in the landscape.
Once these types of plantings are established extra water usage should
not be needed. |
