Agenda - Council Work Session - 02/28/2017

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TO DO/Measure when you water: Determine the amount of water you are applying by putting several containers (coffee cans work!) under your sprinkler or drip irrigation hose. After an hour measure the amount of water collected in the container. This will tell you how much water has been applied in an hour. Note: When determining when and how much to water, be sure to consider any rainfall that has fallen recently. WHEN TO WATER You never want to tell it's time to water by seeing your plants wilting. This means they are under severe water stress. TO DO/Check before you water: Check your garden by feeling the soil a few inches below the surface. Squeeze a hand- ful into a ball and poke it with your finger. If the soil ball holds its shape but breaks apart easily when poked, the moisture level is just right. If the soil ball holds its shape and doesn't break apart easily the soil is too damp. If the soil doesn't even form a ball, it's definitely time to water. Lastly, if you cannot easily dig down a few inches because the soil is too hard, you have bigger problems than watering! Generally, this condition is the result of severe soil compaction and will need to be modified to improve soil conditions. The best time of day to water is early in the morning, from about 4 to 8 a.m. when cooler temperatures, lower wind velocity, and reduced sunlight will lower water losses due to evaporation. In addition, water demand on municipal systems is usually less at that time. While it wit cool plants and reduce heat stress, watering in the middle of the day is not as efficient because some of the water wit evaporate before it can be absorbed by the soil or used by the plant. Watering at night may result in plants and grass stay- ing too wet most of the night thereby increasing the chances of disease development. Watering too much is as detrimental as watering too little. Knowing your plants' requirements is important to good plant health. Plant roots that are growing in soil that is constantly wet become susceptible to many soil -borne pathogens such as fungi and bacteria. Root rots caused by fungi and bacteria will turn plant roots to mush and can weaken or even cause the death of those plants. You can reduce the amount of watering required by using mulches (see Mulching, pg 30). Mulch will hold a significant amount of moisture in the soil, reducing evaporation and the need for water. FOR MORE INFORMATION: - More information and details about watering can be found on the Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series website: www.sustland.umn.edu WATER 8