Horticulture Hotline 01/29/18
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
We (Super Garden Hero and I) had a call on “The Garden
Clinic” (WTMA noon to 1 pm Saturdays) last week about watering during the
winter months (this answer applies to the summer months as well). The quick
answer is one inch of water per week, including rainfall. I look at one inch per week as a starting
point, and then adjust for other factors. The soil should be moist (not wet) to
a depth of six inches. These other
factors include soil type, wind exposure, slope in the yard, berms, heat, cloud
cover and humidity and exposure to the sun.
A clay soil is going to hold more water for a longer period
of time than a sandy soil. When watering
a clay soil, if you put out too much water at once, it will begin to run off
instead of penetrating the soil. Wetting
agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton
Burr Compost) will help water penetrate clay better. Using a soil conditioner
like Turface will also help.
Water tends to pass through sandy soils quickly. If they receive too much water at once, the
water tends to leach through the soil past where the plant roots can access
it. Wetting agents (Possum’s Wetting
Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will give
sandy soils better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Turface
will also help.
Wind exposure can also play a big part in how much to
water. An ocean front or lake front lot
with a constant breeze will require more water than a land-locked, fenced-in
yard in the suburbs that is protected from wind. Position of trees, fences, houses or other
wind breaks can also affect wind exposure.
If your yard is very windy, you will have to water more than a yard that
is more protected from the wind. Wetting
agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton
Burr Compost) will give windy areas better water holding capacity. Using a soil
conditioner like Turface will also help.
Depending on the elevation change in your yard, you could
require more water. Some houses sit up
on hills that slope down toward the road.
These sloping yards require more water.
In the Lowcountry, this is less of a problem than an area in the
mountains or hills. Wetting agents
(Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr
Compost) will give hilly areas better water holding capacity and allow the
water to penetrate the ground instead of running off into the road. Using a
soil conditioner like Turface will also help.
If you have a lot of landscape berms, be sure these areas
are getting enough water. Many berms are
made with landscape grade fill dirt (i.e. sand) that dry out quickly. Being up on a hill, they have more exposure
as well as slope, therefore they require more water. Wetting agents (Possum’s
Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will
give these areas better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Turface
will also help.
Just as we need to drink plenty of water, so do the plants
and grass. Some areas near sidewalks and
streets are getting cooked! The soil
surface temperature is often well over 100 degrees. Give your trees, flowers and turf a
drink! Wetting agents (Possum’s Wetting
Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will give
hot soils better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Turface
will also help.
In the winter, we have cool cloud covered days that are
foggy and real high humidity, and other days that are cool, windy (chap your
lips weather), low humidity and few clouds (blue bird – high sky) days. On
those dry windy days dormant grass, shrubs, and trees can desiccate by losing
moisture through the runners, bark and leaves. Depending on rainfall
(snowfall), we still need to water in the winter months.
Exposure to the sun also affects the amount of water needed
by a yard. If your yard is shaded by a
neighbor’s house or trees, it will require less water than if it is in the wide-open
sun. Different areas of the same yard
will require different amounts of water based on the exposure to the sun. Wetting
agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and organic matter (Cotton
Burr Compost) will give exposed soils better water holding capacity. Using a soil conditioner like Turface will
also help.
Always try to water early in the morning so your landscape
does not stay wet too long and encourage fungus. Turf gets wet at night through
guttation and dew. By watering early in the morning (3-7 am) you are not
extending that wet period. If you water at 9 am and the grass has been wet all
night, you could be giving disease the opportunity (moisture) it needs to
flourish. Wetting agents (Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants) and
organic matter (Cotton Burr Compost) will give your soils better water holding
capacity and you will be able to reduce your watering and your water bill (and
usually your fungicide bill as well). Using a soil conditioner like Turface
will also help.
If you have any doubt, just try one quart of wetting agent
and or one bag of cotton burr compost and see for yourself the difference these
products can make in your landscape.
Using a soil conditioner like Turface will also help.
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
Bill Lamson-Scribner
can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply.
Possum’s has three locations 481
Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant
(971-9601), 3325 Business Circle
in North Charleston
(760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd,
in Charleston
(766-1511). Bring your questions to a Possum’s location, or visit us at
http://www.possumsupply.com. You can also call in your questions to “ The
Garden Clinic”, Saturdays from noon to 1:00, on 1250 WTMA (The Big Talker). The Horticulture Hotline is
available 24 / 7 at possumsupply.com.
