Organic Living

1.    Taking your cue from nature:
Generally your irrigation system doesn’t need to be turned on in April. With temperatures in the 50°F-65°F  range the extra water is not needed because plants aren’t transpiring at a high rate. However with spring blooming, we are bound to have some unusually warm weather come our way. If we have several days of above average temperatures -with no rain- then your irrigation system needs to be turned on at least one day for a half hour to 45 minutes.

2.    In the heat of the summer:
When temperatures are hovering around 85°F and above, the irrigation schedule should be one to one and a half hours of watering twice a week plus syringing daily. Syringing is watering technique where during the hottest portion of the day you give the lawn a 15 minute soak. This short watering will help the grass plant cool itself and maintain its vigor.

3.    Seedy place:
Now of course the guidelines differ slightly if you are seeding your lawn.  Between 6am and 2pm you should be watering twice a day for 15 minutes each time. Also make sure to watch and see if the water is pooling on the surface, if this is the case, reduce the watering time.

4.    To water or not to water:
Sometimes you may not be sure if watering is needed but if you see crusting in your soil or dust blowing, chances are your soil is too dry and needs some water. If your soil is too wet you can see such things as algae, mold, moss and even standing water! Also turgid grass plants tend to spring back when stepped on; if they are too dry they will most likely stay flat and lean in one direction after foot traffic passes through.

5.    New start:
If you have any new planting of trees or shrubs, ensuring they have enough water is crucial to their establishment and vigor. However, overwatering is one of the main factors in the death of new plantings. They only way to prevent this is checking the soil of your plantings periodically and adjust your watering if the soil appears to be and stay wet.  Smaller trees and shrubs should receive a few inches of water every two weeks. The larger more established trees will make do with the rain that comes their way. Lastly, one and a half to two inches of water a week is enough to sustain your vegetable garden.