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Here Comes The Sun

June 1, 2016 By Pro Care

DroughtSummer is coming early to Boise.  As temperatures reach near the 100s in the first week of June, property owners & landscape professionals must adjust sprinkler systems to replenish water loss in plants & soil.  It’s called “evapotranspiration,” the combination of water evaporating from soil & plant transpiration.  “ET” rates increase with temperatures & sun exposure, meaning you have to replace water more frequently.  While you should adjust your sprinkler system before the heat arrives, avoid these 4 common mistakes:

  1. Overwatering – if a little water is good, a lot of water is great, right?  Nope.  Too much water can stress or kill a plant as quickly as too little.  Soil should be consistently moist but not saturated to a depth of 6″-8″.
  2. Misdiagnosis – are those yellow spots caused by drought or something else?  Billbugs, necrotic ring spot, & other lawn issues look similar to drought.  Ascochyta leaf blight is also closely related to drought.  A simple way to tell is to dig into the soil.  Again, it should be moist 6″-8″ deep.  Any less is not enough water in the heat of summer.
  3. Assuming heads/nozzles are covering well – most systems are not installed with efficiency in mind.  Also, components age with time, plants grow & affect coverage, & heads settle.  Even if everything was perfectly adjusted upon activating your system in the spring, you should check coverage at least every 2-4 weeks during the summer.
  4. Underestimating the role soil composition plays – heavy clay soil affects water flow & root development.  It’s often best to break up cycles, applying half of the water during one run, letting it soak in for a few hours, & applying the second half during a later time.  This reduces runoff & pooling.

As the heat arrives, slather on the sun screen, crank up the A/C, & keep the landscape well hydrated!

 

Filed Under: Blog

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