Horticulture Hotline 12/19/18
By Bill Lamson-Scribner
Top ways to save money in the landscape:
Wetting Agent – a product that helps water move deeper into
the soil. Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants will help soften clay and
get rid of those localized dry spots in your lawn. Wetting agents have shown to
reduce watering needs from 33% to 66% in Arizona
and other areas where water is limited. If you could go from watering three
times a week down to once a week or not at all, think of the savings!
The benefits of using
a wetting agent would be far greater than just the savings with the water
company. Since the water would penetrate deeper into the soil, the root systems
of your grass and plants would grow deeper. As the roots of your grass and
plants slough off and are replaced by new roots, organic material is increasing
in the area were these roots are shed, creating a deeper topsoil area.
A deeper root system
will help in times of drought and can collect more nutrients from the soil. If
you use fertilizer, a deeper root system can absorb more nutrients before they
leach away; therefore, you can use lower fertilizer rates. If you use root
absorbed systemic fungicides or insecticides, a deeper root system will also
“catch” these products more efficiently giving you more “bang for your buck”.
When it rains, a yard treated with a wetting agent has less
runoff. The rain penetrates the ground much easier, keeping the rain in your
yard and not in the storm water drains. If you have ever poured water out on a
dusty dirt road, and watched the water bead up and not penetrate the road, you
have witnessed a hydrophobic soil condition. If you add a little wetting agent
to this water and poured it on the same road, the water would penetrate the
dusty dirt road. By keeping the water in your lawn, you will have the benefit
of the water and we will have less runoff into our marshes.
The biggest savings from using a wetting agent will come
from reduced use of fungicides. Fungicides are expensive to use and by watering
less, fungus populations should decrease.
There are many different wetting agents available. I
mentioned Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants specifically because it is
packaged as a ready to spray (RTS) product that can be connected to a hose and
sprayed without mixing. This packaging makes it very easy to use for the
homeowner. Possum’s Wetting Agent with Biostimulants is also available in many
other sizes (quarts, gallons, 2.5 gallons, 30 gallons, 55 gallons) in a
concentrate formulation.
Here is a little teaser for the next installment of our
series on how to save money in the landscape. “Possum’s tested the soil and
furnished a printout that offers a monthly schedule of specific amendments to
improve the soil’s condition. Best garden money ever spent!” Cynthia Webb
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.
