Gardening In LA
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Garden Coaching
    • Speaking
    • Photography
    • Writing >
      • List of Articles
  • Blog
  • News
  • Monthly Tips
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Events
    • Submit Your Garden Events
    • Botanical Gardens' and Other Organizations' Garden Events
  • Jobs
  • Web Links
  • Newsletter

THRIVING GARDENS DEPEND ON APPROPRIATE IRRIGATION

8/10/2015

8 Comments

 
Picture
     “Brown is the new green” is an unfriendly-sounding phrase.  Brown is a rich color, but not to I think anyone's minds eliciting pleasant visions of thriving gardens.  We need colors for that, including variations of greens like blue greens and gray-greens of many drought-tolerant plants as well as the bright greens of well-watered and well-fed plants.  Plant selection offers many options.

     But irrigation and soils are key to thriving gardens, no matter the plant selection.  However, people generally have a hard time gauging how to determine watering needs because they mostly consider only the plant’s foliage and the soil’s surface.  Everything under the soil’s surface seems mysterious partly because "It depends." is the answer they get when they ask "How often and how much should I water?"

     “It depends” because one garden that’s based on sandy soils will drain much more quickly than a garden that’s based on clay soils.  For both soils, incorporating organic matter like compost will help to both retain moisture and provide drainage while keeping the individual soil particles moist.  That magic balance of air pores and soil particles is what keeps plant roots growing well and thriving. 

     Conserving water use by changing from daily to 2 times a week for 10 minutes each time is a good start for lawns, since the roots are generally only a maximum of 6 inches deep.  Watering this frequently for these short periods of time teaches the plants to be shallow-rooted since more water's arriving in a day or two. 

     But for vegetables and ornamentals with roots potentially going down 12-18 inches, once a week deep watering should be sufficient to keep their entire soil profile moist.  Deeper-rooted veggies like tomatoes and shrub ornamentals - to say nothing of trees - need really deep-watering to keep the entire soil profile moist but draining before watering again - perhaps once every 2 weeks even during our summer heat. 

     Be sure to water in a basin that extends beyond the drip line of the plant or tree, since this will encourage roots to extend beyond that in search of nutrients as well as moisture.

     A soil probe is the tool to alert us what the moisture level is nine inches down into the soil.  The tree needs watering only when the dial points to almost dry.  This is why trees should be planted in their own space, away from lawns and shallow-rooted plants.


Picture
Water when the meter isn't quite THIS dry -- when it's on the line between red (dry) and green (moist)!
Picture
This version has probes for both moisture and pH.
8 Comments
Michelle link
2/23/2022 09:56:36 pm

Thanks for sharing this useful information! Hope that you will continue with the kind of stuff you are doing.

Reply
plant for sale in delhi link
3/26/2023 10:33:55 pm

The rise of online plants has made it easier for consumers to purchase plants and grow them at home. This increase in access to plants has led to a proliferation of online retailers that offer plants in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some online retailers even offer clones of popular plants, making it easier for customers to get the plant they desire without having to go through a store.

Reply
push up bra link
3/26/2023 11:14:29 pm

A push-up bra is a type of bra designed to lift and enhance the appearance of the breasts. It typically features padded cups that push the breasts up and together, creating a more rounded and lifted appearance. The padding may be made from a variety of materials, such as foam, gel, or silicone. Some push-up bras also feature underwire for additional support.

Reply
Pipes and fittings link
3/26/2023 11:46:07 pm

While manufacturing various types of plumbing solutions, international quality regulations and standards are followed which include but are not limited to CPVC Pipes and Fittings, uPVC Plumbing System, uPVC SWR Piping Systems, uPVC Pressure Pipes & Fittings, Elastomeric (Ring Fit Pipes), uPVC Column Pipe, Well Casing Pipes, HDPE Pipe, HDPE Sprinkler Systems & Cable Ducts, and Adhesives.

Reply
SEO Near Me link
5/12/2023 05:17:42 am

SEO services typically include various techniques and strategies such as keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, content creation, and technical SEO. The ultimate goal of SEO services is to drive organic traffic to a website and increase its online presence and visibility.

Reply
Rxce link
7/20/2023 02:07:23 am

Welcome to Rxce Login! Visit our website, cooe-rxce.org, and experience the thrill of online gaming at your fingertips. Sign in to your account and unlock a wide range of exciting games and challenges. Join a vibrant community of players, participate in tournaments, and win amazing prizes. Get ready to indulge in an immersive gaming experience like never before!

Reply
Best Call Girls Service in Faridabad link
11/29/2023 01:03:45 am

Book hot and sexy girls in Faridabad for a warm and captivating companionship. Our premier escort service provides unforgettable moments and dream partners in Faridabad. Call 9899869190 now!!

Reply
Relevant vapes link
5/6/2025 12:21:40 am

Relevant vapes provide cutting-edge disposable and rechargeable options, delivering consistent vapor quality, bold flavors, and modern aesthetics for users seeking a stylish, dependable vaping experience tailored to personal preferences.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2025
    April 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

© 2015 Yvonne Savio. All Rights Reserved.                                                                                                                                                         Web Design by StudioMAH.