Waterwise Gardening
| by Jamie Klingenberg and Sandra Hutchens
Drought may be as common as spring rains, but it is devastating for gardens. Gardens for Texas’s staff has over ten years experience in dealing with the unpredictable weather in the Metroplex area and would like to share with you a little bit about how together we can overcome the drought situation that we have been facing in the past year.
The right plants in the right place
The trick to waterwise gardening is to put the right plants in the right place. Different plants have different requirements when it comes to light, soil and water. And every yard contains several different microclimates. You want to put plants in the microclimate that most closely matches their needs. For instance, plants that like sun and dry conditions, such as Nandina, Sages, Grasses and Yarrow, would do best in a southern or western exposure, in areas that get watered infrequently. Plants that prefer cooler sites, such as Hydrangeas, Ferns and Coral Bells, would be happier with an eastern or northern exposure, or in areas that are shaded by other plants. Higher water-using plants would do best in low-lying drainage sites or areas next to downspouts. To make it easier to irrigate efficiently, plants should also be grouped by sprinkler zone according to their watering needs.
Don't put low-water shrubs like Hollies or Indian Hawthornes where the majority of plants need regular irrigation. And for the sake of your house foundation, try to limit the plants nearest the house to those that need little irrigation. No matter how much water your landscape needs, it's important to apply the water efficiently. Efficient irrigation can be done either with a hose-end sprinkler or with an automatic sprinkler system. The keys to either method are: · Keep water close to the ground. Avoid the oscillating type of sprinkler that sends water high into the air. Stationary sprinkler heads that keep the water fairly low or sprinklers that move horizontally from side to side (like rotary heads) are less prone to evaporation. Drip, micro-sprays or bubbler emitters are the most efficient for watering flowers, shrubs and trees.
Know how much water your sprinkler puts out in a given amount of time so you can calculate how long to water for each zone. The easiest way to measure sprinkler output is to place three identical empty cans at various distances from the sprinkler within a given zone. Turn the sprinkler on for 15 minutes, and then turn it off and pour the collected water into one can. With a ruler, measure the depth of water and divide by 3 (the number of cans used). Your sprinkler delivers that much water in 15 minutes.
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Design your sprinkler system (or plan your hose placement) so that a given zone or hose placement waters plants with similar watering requirements. Don't try to water low and moderate-water-requiring plants at the same time -- you'll end up either over watering some plants or under watering others.
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, change the watering times per zone at least once a month to reflect the different water requirements. Plants need more applied irrigation in the heat of the summer than in the spring or fall.
Check your system regularly for leaks, broken or misaligned heads, and make repairs promptly.
DO NOT water between 10AM and 6PM. The ideal time to water you garden and lawn is early in the morning, 5AM.
Eliminate lawn areas as they require a lot of watering.
The Texas A&M Horticulture department reports that more plants are killed by over watering than by under watering. So… watch out! Gardens for Texas’ staff is available to assist you with any questions or issues you might have in your garden. In the next issue of the journal, look for our article on the proper cultivation of soil and the use of various mulches.
If you have been thinking about expanding a flower bed, adding ornamental trees, shrubs or perennials; if you would like to add a garden structure, a pathway or a fountain; or if you would just like to make your garden healthier and more enjoyable, please call us at 214-691-2516 or visit our website www.GardensForTexas.com and together we can make this spring bloom.