Getting very dry

While there were a few scattered showers Thursday night, it has now been 3 weeks since the last rain of substance at my Cheviot 0.9 SSE location.

August stats to date:

Date Maximum Minimum Observation Total 24 hr
1 82 59 75 T
2 81 67 67 T
3 81 57 77 0.00
4 77 65 65 1.27
5 77 63 73 0.01
6 77 60 67 0.00
7 81 59 67 T
8 87 67 81 0.00
9 89 68   0.00
10 87 70   0.29
11 82 68   0.00
12 83 64   0.00
13 84 65   0.00
14 84 62   0.00
15 87 63   0.00
16 89 71   0.00
17 87 68 80 0.02
18 85 71 79 T
19 87 72 75 0.01
20 85 72 77 0.03
21 81 67 75 0.00
22 75 59 63 T
23 73 57 65 0.00
24 77 53 67 0.00
25 82 57 75 0.00
26 87 63 75 0.00
27 87 66 75 0.00

Total rainfall:  1.63

Watering instructions, rain gauges:  Click here.

How do I water and how often?

Since many areas missed much of the rainfall this week, a review of proper watering procedures is in order.

New trees and shrubs are particularly stressed by moisture extremes (wet and
dry) due to having a number of roots cut at planting time.  Please observe
the watering recommendations printed below.  Improper watering can harm
trees and shrubs and void new plant warranties.

No matter what type of sprinkler you chose, or if you use a sprinkler
system, it is essential that you measure the water applied. In the
Cincinnati area, in areas with clay soil, it is best to water one to two
inches at a time, once every seven to ten days in the absence of rainfall.
This schedule should be adjusted to account for variations in temperature,
natural rainfall, exposure of individual plants and the water needs of
individual plants. Do not locate plants together if their water needs are
dissimilar.

Watering sprinklers and rain gauges are available from the Arbor Doctor store online here.
More localized rainfall totals my be found here and here.

Dry August to date

After a cool, wet July, August has been quite dry at my Cheviot 0.9 SSE location.  There has only been one really good rain here all month with 1.27 inch on the 4th.   In the past 16 days I have recorded only 0.35 inch.  Lawns are beginning to slump into summer dormancy in my neighborhood.