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June tips for a beautiful
Water-wise landscape
By Winola VanArtsdalen
To maximize efficiency in watering your
landscape, check your sprinkler system
using straight-sided pans guided by http://
aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/
files/2010/10/audit.pdf. You can also email
[email protected] and ask for a may wilt during periods of heat but revive
water ambassador to come do this for you.
They promise that they’ll be the ones to
“get wet, so you don’t have to!”
When and how much?
Be sure to follow the rules of the City of
Georgetown water department. Watch for
weekly notices from Sun City Texas water
manager Carlton Mathis, whose Water
Matters article appears monthly in Sun
Rays magazine.
Water a total of one inch or less in a week,
one-half inch the first day and one-half inch light pruning for shaping, weeds to be
again the second day, divided into cycles. If pulled and any pest problems requiring
you have enough compost-amended soil to
hold the moisture, watering once a week
the full one inch will give deeper roots.
Avoid wasting water outside vegetation
areas: sidewalks, street, etc.
Depth of moisture
A few hours after watering or the following
morning, use a moisture sensor (available
online or at local stores) or screwdriver
to be sure water reached the roots. Roots
will not grow without moisture. Shallow
watering will result in roots near the
surface where it is dry and hot. Plants
with deeper roots need deeper watering.
Hand water or run a soaker hose to deep-
rooted plants, bushes and trees to get them
established.
Keep close watch!
Watch plants for signs of stress to tell you
when they need water: leaves that lose
luster, have a grey or blue cast, curling
edges, overall slow growth and/or plants
62 | SUNRAYS JUNE 2016
Deep watering is necessary for good
root systems.
that are wilted in the morning. Some
plants, such as American beauty berry,
and be healthy when fall rain comes.
Check instructions for individual plants
at time of purchase or research online. If
only a few plants need more water, hand
water or run a soaker hose.
Psychological adjustment needed!
Grass simply does not need to be deep
green in hot summer. Accept it!
JUNE GARDENING TIPS
Take an early morning walk to check your
plants. Look for plants needing a bit of
hand picking or a hard water spray.
Early prevention can avoid more serious
problems.
Deadhead spent blooms by making a clean
snip back to a leaf or leaves.
Watch container plants that dry out
quickly. Be sure to cover surface with
mulch.
SOIL:
– Compost of 3-4 inches deep should be
mixed in new beds, with one inch added
each season and/or between plantings.
Three inches of mulch on top of soil holds
moisture, keeps more even temperature
and encourages deeper root growth.
Winola is a Williamson County
Master Gardener, a member of
the Sun City Garden Club and a
member of the Sun City Water Wise
Task Force.
Master Gardeners and other
experienced gardeners are available
to answer questions a half hour
before Sun City Garden Club
meetings each month. The Garden
Club meets the second Wednesday
of each month beginning with the
question and answer period at
12:30 p.m.
TURF:
– Do not aerate your lawn during a
drought, as it will cause undue stress
to the root zone. Never spread compost
in hot weather as it is high in nitrogen
and could burn turf.
TREES:
– Do not trim trees susceptible to oak
wilt February through June.
Source: Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension
Service.
Horticulture Questions:
Contact Williamson County AgriLIFE
Extension Office at
512-943-3300
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG