March 1, 2005 Weekly Water Saving Tip

March can be a confusing month and this year is no exception. We get those periods of warm temperatures and sunny days which brings on the excitement of getting out into the yard. This past Saturday was just such a day. Then, all of a sudden it turns cold. We’ve seen some pretty wild weather lately. We may get a few false starts before the real spring arrives, so don’t be too hasty to get your annuals out or other things growing. We could still get a cold period that would damage new growth or buds. And know that, an early planting, in cold soil, is quickly overtaken by a later planting in warm soil. It has also been found that the yields of the early planted vegetables is lower than those planted maybe 2 or 3 weeks later. The soil temperatures last week were between 55 and 60 degrees at both the two and six inch depth. At this temperature roots are still fairly slow in growth.

However, do spend some time in the garden controlling weeds and getting things cleaned up. Watch for any insects or diseases that start to appear with the warmer temperatures. It is important that you clean up any old or dead plant materials from your yard. They serve as an excellent hiding place for insects and disease. And later on in the growing season, these will become a source of problems in the landscape.

With all the moisture we have received, hopefully you haven’t turned your irrigation system on yet. You should be able to wait another couple of weeks before flipping the switch. Keep checking the soil should be dried down one or two inches before any watering. If you still haven’t aerated your lawn, now is a great time to do it. Remember when aerating go in at least two different directions but preferably three. For example north to south, east to west and then diagonal.

For more information, call Julie Breckenridge at 673-3617.