THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410130050
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDENING COLUMNIST
LENGTH: Long : 151 lines
Until the rains arrived this weekend, it had been a very dry fall - pleasant for people, but not so pleasant for plants.
Trees, lawns, flowers and bushes wree thirsty, and the last significant rain fell seven weeks ago. This weekend's soaking rain should give a refreshing drink to lawns and gardens, but may not be enough to fully overcome the stress caused by the fluky summer and fall.
First there was the extremely hot, dry June, followed by the record wet and hot July. August was rather unremarkable, but September and October brought another dry spell.
September rainfall was 1.88 inches below normal and before the rains began Thursday night, there had only been .02 of an inch of rain in October. Normal rainfall for this month is 3.17 inches, according to the National Weather Service station at Norfolk International Airport.
With such conditions, it's important to know how to make the most of a little water. Some people think that once summer ends they don't need to water their yards, but breezes are just as drying as the sun, and winds have been especially strong in early October.
Anytime you hear small-craft warnings in the forecast, you know the wind is drying your plants.
Another problem is scattered showers. It may rain at your house, but not at a neighbor's. The water needs of plants must be attended to during dry spells, even if there is an occasional brief shower.
As thirsty as the plants may be, there also is a need to conserve water. Restrictions on water use remain in place in Virginia Beach, and other Hampton Roads cities faced restrictions earlier this year and are likely to encounter them again in the future.
Some localities are taking more permanent water-conserving measures. In Atlanta, you can water your lawn only certain days of the week in summer. Florida also has new laws limiting watering, and parts of Texas have set allowances per home.
Here are some suggestions for conserving water and helping your plants.
Mulch: Use pine bark, pine needles, peat moss, well-rotted garden compost or grass clippings around all shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables. Even old newspapers or strips of cardboard will help. Mulch not only conserves water but helps plants survive rough winter weather.
Apply mulch so it is thick enough to thoroughly cover soil, usually about 3 inches. Mulch retains moisture normally lost through evaporation, and it discourages weeds.
Till in organic matter: Four inches of organic material, such as manure, compost, ground-up leaves or grass clippings, worked in around flowers and shrubs will conserve water. Be careful not to disturb roots.
Mow less frequently: Grass allowed to grow tall will grow slower and use less water. The lower the mowing height, the more stress to the grass plant. This increases competition from weeds and forces grass into needing more water.
Pull weeds: Keep your gardens weed-clear. Weeds steal water from other plants.
Do not fertilize: Fertilizing in times of drought puts plants under stress.
Do not prune aggressively: Shearing promotes water-demanding new growth. Prune only when necessary by thinning or removing branches.
Double pot: Plants in containers will require less water if you ``double-pot.'' Put every pot inside a larger pot and fill the space between pots with pine bark.
Install drip irrigation or soaker hoses: Drip or trickle irrigation is more efficient than overhead sprinklers. It saves time and money. It can be especially effective in an orchard, rose garden or shrub planting.
Soaker hoses also help save water. You can install either system yourself or have it done for you.
Authorities believe the days of seeing water cascading over a garden, with sprinklers busily shooting water everywhere except where it's supposed to go, are numbered.
Make every drop count: Let plants tell you when they need water. Most plants, including grass, will wilt when they need water. Do not water until you notice wilting.
Water slowly, deeply and infrequently to avoid water runoff. Water by hand the areas that dry out more quickly. Make sure your hose or sprinklers do not leak. They can waste gallons of water per week.
To improve water penetration for trees and shrubs, drill 1-inch diameter holes at the drip line and fill them with mulch.
For better water penetration of your lawn, aerate it by removing soil cores with an aerating machine, available at rental centers.
Eliminate run-off: Change sprinklers or buy new ones so you direct the water to where it's needed. Don't water the driveway, curbs, decks, porches or sidewalks. Check your hoses and sprinklers for leaks.
Time your watering: Do all watering between 5 and 9 a.m. Set automatic irrigation systems on manual instead of automatic. Use them only when heat or lack of rain make it necessary. Your watering system should not be operating during a rain storm.
Make watering more effective: When watering is necessary, there are ways to do it more effectively. A shallow trench or length of old guttering with holes drilled in it, placed alongside plants, is one way. For watering individual plants that need a lot of water, such as tomatoes, sink a large flower pot beside the plant and pour water into the pot. You can fertilize at the same time by putting dry fertilizer in the pot or by using a product like Miracle Gro in the water.
If your soil is well-drained, it helps to form a slight basin around the plant to concentrate any water you apply. Lastly, put a 12-inch length of plastic pipe in the ground beside each plant and water through it. This ensures water getting to the roots and prevents wasting water on surface soil.
Try new products: Dale Stevens, Maryland Certified Professional Horticulturist, recommends cutting down on transpiration by using an anti-desiccant. ``If the weather is really hot and dry, a product such as Wilt-Pruf comes in a ready-to-use bottle and reduces the amount of water a plant loses to transpiration.''
Another new product is Aqua Turf, one of the ``makes water wetter'' products. It loosens clay soil and helps hold water in the root zone.
Collect rainwater: Install a down-spout filter and a rain barrel to save water from afternoon showers. Plastic or galvanized steel trash cans make excellent rain barrels. Use plastic milk jugs or a bucket to dip the water and use on your garden.
Use plants that need little water: If watering is too much of a hassle, develop a garden that doesn't need it. Give up bedding plants, reduce your lawn to a bare minimum and concentrate on plants that don't mind going without water. Most trees and shrubs, excluding rhododendrons and azaleas, develop deep roots and can tap sufficient water from the soil. Small, drought-resistant plants include any of the euphorbia or genista (pea family), as well as most gray and silver-leaved plants. ILLUSTRATION: JOHN CASERTA/Staff illustrations
ROBERT STIFFLER/Photo
Alan Hissem of McDonald Garden Center installs a drip irrigation
system in a rose garden for more efficient watering.
Graphic
MORE INFORMATION
``Drip Watering Made Easy,'' how to plan, install, operate and
maintain a low-volume watering system. Free from Rain Drip Inc.
Call 1-800-544-3747
``Water Conserving Gardens and Landscapes,'' by John M. O'Keefe,
Storey Communications, $21.95 hardback or $12.95 paperback. Order
from a bookstore or call (800) 827-8673.
``The Water-Thrifty Garden,'' by water conservation experts,
Taylor Publishing, $19.95. Order from a bookstore.
``Pumps and Wells in Tidewater,'' a do-it-yourself guide to wells
and pumps for irrigation. Available for $1 at Kempsville True Valu,
5226 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach. Call 495-1023.
For a free brochure on water-wise landscaping, contact the
Virginia Beach Department of Public Utilities, 427-4631.
For water timers, rain barrels, soaker hoses and
area-controllable sprinklers, shop your favorite home or garden
center or write Gardener's Supply Co. 128 Intervale Road,
Burlington, Vt. 05401 for a catalog. Fax (802) 660-3501.
by CNB