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Watering wisdom saves drought-weary plants
Drought or not? That's what everyone has been talking about since last fall. What will happen this summer? Few of us have a reliable crystal ball or Ouija Board. My Magic 8 ball lacks consistency. The ideal summer would have high temperatures in the 80s and an inch of rain each week, except during harvest. Of course, no more wars, high farm prices and a good Star Wars sequel would also be ideal. Oh, well... Water can be a precious commodity for those on wells. Rationing can put urban folks in the same boat. Water restrictions may require you to make decisions on what plants get water and what don't. Plants differ in their water needs. Most of our lawn grasses need at least an inch or two of rain or water per week when the temperatures are above 85 degrees and you want to keep the lawn green. On the other hand, if it gets dry, most lawn grasses will follow a natural tendency and go dormant. Cooler temperatures and autumn rains should turn lawns green again. Trees and shrubs, being the biggest investment and the hardest to replace, should be the first priority of any water conservation practices. Most people believe the root system goes down to China. More than 90 percent of the root system, though, is within the top 15 inches of the soil surface. The good news is that woody ornamentals have an extensive root system and can seemingly suck any molecule of water from the soil. It still puts a stress on the plant.
And of course, fruits and vegetables are
A good rule of thumb is to provide, or hope for, an inch of water/rain per week when the plant is actively growing. When temperatures are above 90 degrees, that amount practically doubles. An inch of water should wet the ground to a depth of 8 to 12 inches depending on soil type. As the soil dries near the surface, the lower levels are moist. This moisture stimulates roots to go deeper to reach it. This, in turn, helps the plant develop a deeper root system to reach more water and to keep cooler. The point — don't water small amounts. Always water so you apply an inch of water at a time. This may mean leaving your sprinkler on for at least an hour or two to wet the ground thoroughly. Other water-saving tips include: • Water in the morning when there is less wind and evaporation. Most of the water will soak into the ground. Use a timer to turn the water on at 5 a.m. and finish by 7 a.m. • Measure how long it takes to apply an inch of water if you're using a sprinkler. A cat food or tuna fish can is a good device. Place it three-quarters the distance of the water spray. Check to see how long it takes to fill it. • Avoid any light sprinklings. This will cause the roots to remain close to the soil surface where they can dry out and burn with warmer soil temperatures. • Use mulch. Four to six inches of woodchips, wheat straw, bark or compost will limit water loss from the soil around plants. • Drip irrigation or soaker hoses can place the water right at the plants, and not in areas that don't need watering. Why water the vegetable garden rows when few roots are in this area? • Dig out weeds. They compete for moisture. • When planning and planting, put plants having similar water requirements close together. In other words, group plants that need lots of water and those that don't. It makes watering easier.
David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, University of Illinois Extension. You can write to Robson in care of Illinois Country Living, PO. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: (217) 782-6515. 16 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING JUNE 2000 |
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David Robson
important. I'd like to say flowers are just as important, but they provide more of an aesthetic beauty, and while that is great for the soul, it really doesn't add that many points in the positive column when you're making tough water decisions.