Earlier this year, Extension started offering a one-hour webinar series for free! It is called the K-State Garden Hour and was offered weekly throughout the growing season. This fall, the program is slowing down to a monthly webinar hour. The webinar’s include a 45-minute presentation and 10-15 minutes for questions from live participants. Participants can register online to view the live sessions, but all sessions have been recorded.
Tag: Water
Watering During a Drought: Trees & Shrubs
Many times I hear from clients “I water my grass, that’s enough for my trees.” Even in a year with sufficient rainfall, watering your grass is not enough water for a tree. Successfully established trees and shrubs have a moisture requirement just like any other plan. And yes, to some extent they can pull water from turf watering, but the overall health of these plants is at a higher risk.
Our past Office Professional, originally from Missouri, always commented on how much we liked our trees in Meade County and the extent a client was willing to take to keep a tree healthy in Southwest Kansas. She was right, it takes time and effort for a large tree, which cannot be replaced quickly.
First we need to consider the plants that serve a legitimate purpose as a landscape element by providing shade, privacy or curb appeal. Then look at outlying plants that probably don’t have as much importance, these may be allowed to stress more, even to the point of going into summer dormancy. But don’t overlook these plants, especially if they are not native.
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Watering During a Drought: Lawns
The extended forecast from the National Weather Service of Dodge City is not looking promising for any significant rain fall in the coming weeks. Because of this, I’m going to take the next few weeks to highlight how to keep plants healthy during a drought.
Most everyone can appreciate a lush green lawn. However, not everyone loves the maintenance or the associated costs. By watering our lawns efficiently, water consumption can be reduced by up to 50 percent with only a 10 percent reduction in turf quality. Don’t let that scare you off just yet, stick with me here. To a majority of us, this change is hardly noticeable and leads to positive effects such as less frequent mowing and fewer weeds, diseases and insects. For those that don’t water, supplementing our lawns with water during a drought can help maintain a good stand of turf. Over time, poor turf stands can encourage weed growth.
