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Liquid
Refreshments
By Amanda
Whatley Owen
web
posted June 7,
2018
GARDENING
- H2O, two
Hydrogen atoms and
one Oxygen atom
also known as
water, is the
number one
resource needed
for all living
organisms to
survive, including
plants and
grass!
Water helps
transport
nutrients down to
the root systems
of all living
plants.
If you're one of
the folks who have
an irrigation
system, then your
summers are pretty
easy when it comes
to watering, but
there are a few of
us without an
irrigation system,
that have to water
our lawn and
garden the old
fashioned
way.
Whichever
technique you use
to water, there
are tips in this
article that just
might help you.
While there is a
difference when it
comes to watering
your lawn,
compared to
watering your
flower and
vegetable garden,
there are a few
similarities.
Here are a few key
points. For
instance, the best
time of day to
water is early in
the morning.
You can even water
as early as 4am,
though most folks
that water that
early have a timer
on their faucet or
sprinkler
system.
Personally, I am
not getting up
that early to
water, but as long
as you give your
lawn and garden a
good soaking
before mid-day sun
beams down on it,
you're safe.
When you water
early and let the
water really
penetrate the
soil, this tells
the roots to stay
low in the soil
and drink, and to
not surface the
soil looking for
water where they
would dry
out.
Another general
rule of thumb for
lawns and gardens
are generally an
inch worth of
water each
week.
Though, in our
area I would
suggest during the
hotter summer
days, to monitor
your areas and
supply your garden
and lawn with two
inches of water,
due to the extreme
heat South
Carolina can tend
to have.
Another tip to
keep in mind is
setting your mower
height to a higher
level, so as not
to scalp your
lawn. This
helps shade the
root system, which
reduces
evaporation, and
that also helps
keep those
water-stealing
weeds our of your
lawn.
Each year, keep
the thatch racked
out, which is all
those dead matted
roots and other
dead material in
the lawn.
Remember clean
plants makes happy
plants, this also
applies to your
lawn!
Lastly, be sure to
aerate the soil,
which is to poke
holes all in your
yard to help water
access the roots
quicker and
easier, especially
after a cold,
harsh
winter.
As far as the
garden, flower
beds, and potted
plants, your
containers will
always need more
water than plants
planted in the
ground because
being contained in
a pot restricts
the plant from
getting water from
natural soil in
the earth.
The first sign of
a distressed plant
needing water is,
of course,
wilt. Try
not to let this
happen too often
because this can,
over time, kill
the plant.
When the leaves
and blooms of the
plant sag or lean
down, be sure to
soak the
plant. Try
not to let this
happen too often
because this can,
over time, kill
the plant.
A common mistake
some folks make is
when they see the
plant sagging and
leaves falling off
they think the
plant needs more
water, but really,
the plant can be
"waterlogged",
meaning there is
too much water
standing on the
roots of the
plant. This
causes the plant
to rot. It
will need to be
dug up, and
replanted with
peat moss and sand
mixed in, to help
dry out the roots
in hope for the
plants survival.
If you are late
watering your
garden vegetables
and flowers in the
mornings, try to
avoid wetting the
leaves of the
plants and just
soak the
soil. A
plant with wet
leaves can get
scorched by the
sun and cause the
plant to burn up.
Lastly, the best
way to help
contain moisture
to the plants,
making your
watering a little
less of a hassle,
is to add mulch,
hay, or even pine
straw around the
plants to help
lock in the
moisture so the
sun is not beating
down on the soil
robbing it of it's
moisture. In
your vegetable
garden, I would
suggest mulch or
wheat straw and
try to stay away
from pine
products, because
of critters that
can overtake the
crops.
Don't forget to
keep yourself
hydrated!
Next week in
Mandy's Friendly
Garden, we will
learn about the
summer time
favorite, Venus
Fly Trap.
For all past articles please visit
our Archives
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2018
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