February 9, 2004 Weekly Water Saving Tip

February 9, 2004

 
The temperatures have been lower than average the last couple of days and it looks like the coming week is expected to continue to be a little cooler than normal. This may not be what we want for our own comfort, but it sure is what the landscape can use. Things will remain dormant or continue to grow slower. So, as I am sure you expect, irrigation is not needed. Do, however, watch your evergreen plants. The strong winds that occur this time of year can result in the loss of water from them. So, spot water these plants, if needed.

 
Now is a great time to aerate your lawn. This will be our weekly reminder because aeration is one of the greatest ways to conserve water that is applied to turf. Also inspect your irrigation system. Everything should be in good working condition before its needed. You may even consider moving some heads to get better coverage, which will result in fewer dry spots. I have a great brochure on determining the efficiency of your system. Give me a call and I will mail it to you. You can also look at how you might change some of the zones in your irrigation system so that the areas that need more water are not on the zone with areas that require just a little water.

 
It is recommended to prune all dormant trees before the buds break. A workshop, Prune it Right, will be held at The Garden in Tonaquint Park on Saturday, February 28, so, come and learn the pruning basics for proper tree care. The workshop starts at 10 a.m. and will last about an hour. Space is limited so please call 673-3617 to reserve your spot. The cost for the workshop is $5 to be paid at the door. Participants will receive a book, Garden Basics by Louise Carter. Also apply a dormant oil on your trees. A good dormant oil spray will control 80 to 90 percent of your future insect problems and healthy, non-stressed trees require less water.

 
The Weekly Water Saving is provided to Washington County Water Conservancy District by Dr. Frank Williams of the BYU Horticulture Department. For more information, call Julie Breckenridge at 673-3617.