Are you Watering your Landscape Too Much or Too Little?
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 11:21AM 
;)
When I visit potential clients’ homes, I often notice that they are over-watering their plants. When a plant looks stressed, many people will simply water it more. Plants getting too much water and plants getting too little will generally demonstrate similar symptoms, including slow growth and yellowing or dropping of leaves. Saturated soils prevent plants’ roots from getting the oxygen they need, causing as much stress and under-watering does.
My favorite tools for determining whether a plant is being watered adequately are the index and middle fingers on my right hand. I brush aside the surface mulch and dip my fingers into the soil 2-3” deep. If the soil is hard and dry, then the area is unsuitable for all but the most xeric plants, and maybe not even these. Even xeric plants need occasional watering until they’re established. For most plants, the soil should be moist to the touch, not wet.
If your plants are stressed, identify the plants and learn about their watering, nutrient and other needs. This will help you determine whether you might be over-watering or under-watering. If you are establishing new plants on a site, choose plants that fit the microclimates of your property, using plants that are naturally adapted to the natural soil moisture rather than planting water-loving plants in a dry part of your yard. Rain gardens and mulched greywater basins can help you create microclimates that are more suitable for plants that need more water.
I see many older irrigation systems that were installed as the same time as the landscape was planted. Often these systems are poorly matched for the watering needs of the now mature landscapes. Trees benefit from longer and less frequent watering than perennials and annuals. Shrubs are right in the middle of this continuum. Many of these irrigation systems have irrigation lines with trees, shrubs and perennials all on the same lines. Unfortunately, this type of system will inevitably over-water or under-water some of the plants. Ideally irrigation systems should have separate lines for plants with like water requirements, such as one or more tree lines, a shrub line, and one or more line for perennials. To get a ballpark idea of the amount of water you are using in your landscape, pull out your water bills and note the difference in your water use in hotter months vs. cooler months. You might be surprised!
Reader Comments (8)
This information serves a good reference upon growing up and planting for the landscaping area. Indeed, it supports me a lot to gain informative and supportive ideas as to landscape my area in a better way.
landscaping perth
Great post,I so much love this post. thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much for uploading it.
Your blog is so informative ? keep up the good work!!!!Armani pants
but you may have apprehensions about this especially if you are worried about falling off your bike and not have much cheap air max shoes confidence in that tight cycling shirt protecting you from a series of nasty scrapes.
i don't feel well today , i am a little sad !www.cheaphandbagbuy.com
No doubt you will surely find abercrombie uk something unique in the Abercrombie & Fitch jeans; you will be able to stand distinct from the crowd.
He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs. kflkfr kflkfr - moncler jacket store.
No <h1>Coach tory</h1> what the<h1>Coach Factory</h1>or <h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1> of <h1>Coach Outlet Online Store</h1<h1>Coach Factory Online</h1>,<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1> is a <h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1> out<h1>Coach Factory</h1>for <h1>Coach Factory Outlet Store Online</h1> By<h1>Louis Vuitton Bag</h1> your <h1>Coach Factory Store Online</h1>l <h1>Louis Vuitton Bags</h1> and<h1>Coach Factory Store Online</h1>
monster beats
monster beats headphones
dr dre monster beats headphones
Monster beats dr dre
monster beats headphones
Monster beats solo