Irrigation Gizmos and Gadgets – Part I

It ’s still summer and I ’m still thinking about water . In my last couple of blog posts I ’ve been throw away visible light on how we practice

water in our gardens and the environmental responsibility we turn out when we commit to growing plant around our homes .

Part I — When The Well Runs Dryhighlighted not only the perennial weewee shortages we have here in the westerly nation , but also the changing patterns in historically smashed place like Georgia and northern Florida .

InPart Two — It ’s Like Road Rage , Only Wetter , I muck up off a little steam suggesting ways to cut down on water utilisation by addressing the meridian perpetrator — your lawn . Downsize it , contend the water better , fill in substitute low - water using plants , etc .

If you miss those berth , they ’re still up at Cool Green Gardens . Take This Probe and Shove It

Have you ever looked at the surface of your soil and thought , “ Man , that looks ironical ; I ’d better bankrupt out the hosiery ” ?

If so , I begrudge your moisture - sensing x - ray vision ! How else would you excuse your tiptop Italian sandwich ability to know the amount of moisture below the dirt just by observing the top 1/16 ” of crust ? But would n’t it be coolio if you could know what ’s go on down there ?

Enter the dirt probe , a bare , inexpensive equipment — a tetraiodothyronine - address hollow sword subway with one side shaved away , as if attacked by an overzealous carrot peeler .

Hey , What ’s go On Down There ?

crowd the investigation into the soil as deep as you’re able to ( here ’s where those topnotch powers could issue forth in handy ) . You might want to twist the investigation like a bottle screw to get through fine rootage . Next , pull the probe out and “ read ” the ground . You ’ll feel like a scientist , capable to see not only the amount of moisture , but you ’ll take a lot about your soil ’s grain .

In this photo the sample was taken under my fig tree , where the surface soil appeared quite dry . The core sample distribution point that

The dry , upper soil mask the fact that the root zone isdark and moist .

the upper ¾ ” of ground is tripping bleached and dry , but the miserable section is dark and moist . No pauperization to irrigate for at least a few more days .

If the reverse occurred ( dry down bass , but moist above ) it means that I ’m not water deep enough to reach the active roots . I ’m actually being uneconomical , because I ’m not making the best use of the water I ’m put on .

Pretty wide-eyed , eh?Look Before You leak out

Next time you think it ’s time to pee , first pull a sample and see just how much moisture is really useable . Your turf , annual and perennials more often than not slump their theme a light 6 ” to 8 ” , whereas big shrubs and trees can pull water from 18 ” to 24 ” inches . Water when the root zone is actually ironical , not when the Earth’s surface look dry .

After a few weeks of sampling before you irrigate , you ’ll have a better idea of when the plants in reality need your aid . You ’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that you could ordinarily await at least a few more daytime before performing your next rainwater dance . water supply is valued . Why blow it ?

Fine Gardening Recommended intersection

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

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