Think about water as we head through summer

About a month ago I sent out a newsletter article, including watering tips, mentioning increasingly dry and hot weather.  Within 24 hours of that newsletter going out the CVG airport had picked up 4.20 inches of rain and I had hed close to 3 inches.  I guess it worked.

June saw almost twice normal rainfall, but very little has fallen in July.  Temperatures have been hot.  I have had a coupld new transplants begin to show drought stress.  It is likely that soil moisture remains good a few inches down, but the longer it stays hot and dry the more we need to think about watering. As always, pay attention to what falls in your neighborhood.  Get a good rain gauge so you know what falls in your yard ( http://arbordoctor.com/tools.html ). Please see this link for watering tips:  http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/art-and-science-watering-garden.

Good monitoring also saves money and helps plants.  A couple times recently I have visited properties where watering was going way overboard, soils were saturated and root zones were flooded.  This kills plants, even trees, and costs you money both in high water bills and lost landscapes.

Your landscape may be getting thirsty!

As I drove around town yesterday, I noted many lawns taking on a brown cast.  I have had only 0.06 inches of rain at my location in the past 14 days.  Combined with persistent heat, this has caused considerable drying.  My friend, nurseryman Bill Lagergren, reports the top 3 to 5 inches of soil are quite dry now, while the soil is still moist below this.  Some rain occurred Friday and more is forecast, but both recent rains and forecast rains may be scattered and not benefit everyone.   It is now time to water, especially new transplants and shallow rooted trees and shrubs.  Please see this link for watering tips:  http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/art-and-science-watering-garden