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October 6, 2003 Weekly Water Saving Tip
Last Updated: 2003-11-20 10:14:55
Weekly Water Saving Tip #41
October 6, 2003
As was mentioned last week the night temperatures continue to be cooler. In our climate where the daytime temperatures still remain warm and the night temperatures are cool, it is important that the perennial plants in our landscape become dormant. We need to make an effort to coax them to go into dormancy if they are to survive the cold winter period.
Weekly Water Saving Tip #41
October 6, 2003
As was mentioned last week the night temperatures continue to be cooler. In our climate where the daytime temperatures still remain warm and the night temperatures are cool, it is important that the perennial plants in our landscape become dormant. We need to make an effort to coax them to go into dormancy if they are to survive the cold winter period. The shortening of the daylight hours and the cooling temperatures are the trigger that starts the plants into dormancy. We can aid in the induction of dormancy by reducing the frequency of irrigation. If the plants continue to grow they become more susceptible to frost damage than those with older, more hardened wood. Also, do little or no pruning in October. This only makes the plant more susceptible to cold damage, by encouraging new growth.
Irrigation this week for turf is be every 7-10 days. Make sure that you let the soil dry out a little more between irrigations. Watching that the plants are not allowed to dry out to the point that they become stressed. Don’t water in small amounts, you still have to make sure that the roots are moistened, just lengthen out the interval between watering. Remember that the plants are requiring less water and to harden them off you should decrease your irrigation frequencies.
Our lawns should be growing slow enough now that we can start to lengthen out the time between mowing. We should be mowing at the 2-2 ½ inch height to make sure the roots have sufficient energy to continue to grow when conditions are best. The closer the mowing the more reduced the root growth develops.
It is a great time to make sure that weeds are not going to seed, this will save a lot of time and water next year. Late in October is usually a time when the cooler temperatures encourage the germination of the fall annual weeds. Quickly remove them to cut down on water consumption and competition to the plants.
The weekly water saving tip is provided to Washington County Water Conservancy District by Dr. Frank Williams, professor of the BYU Horticulture department. If you would like any more information please call me, Julie Breckenridge, at 673-3617.
October 6, 2003
As was mentioned last week the night temperatures continue to be cooler. In our climate where the daytime temperatures still remain warm and the night temperatures are cool, it is important that the perennial plants in our landscape become dormant. We need to make an effort to coax them to go into dormancy if they are to survive the cold winter period. The shortening of the daylight hours and the cooling temperatures are the trigger that starts the plants into dormancy. We can aid in the induction of dormancy by reducing the frequency of irrigation. If the plants continue to grow they become more susceptible to frost damage than those with older, more hardened wood. Also, do little or no pruning in October. This only makes the plant more susceptible to cold damage, by encouraging new growth.
Irrigation this week for turf is be every 7-10 days. Make sure that you let the soil dry out a little more between irrigations. Watching that the plants are not allowed to dry out to the point that they become stressed. Don’t water in small amounts, you still have to make sure that the roots are moistened, just lengthen out the interval between watering. Remember that the plants are requiring less water and to harden them off you should decrease your irrigation frequencies.
Our lawns should be growing slow enough now that we can start to lengthen out the time between mowing. We should be mowing at the 2-2 ½ inch height to make sure the roots have sufficient energy to continue to grow when conditions are best. The closer the mowing the more reduced the root growth develops.
It is a great time to make sure that weeds are not going to seed, this will save a lot of time and water next year. Late in October is usually a time when the cooler temperatures encourage the germination of the fall annual weeds. Quickly remove them to cut down on water consumption and competition to the plants.
The weekly water saving tip is provided to Washington County Water Conservancy District by Dr. Frank Williams, professor of the BYU Horticulture department. If you would like any more information please call me, Julie Breckenridge, at 673-3617.
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