With drought being an ongoing issue in Texas, keeping things watered with minimal water is important! Efficient irrigation is one of the key Earth-Kind practices for conserving water in the landscape. Low volume irrigation systems, (drip or trickle irrigation) are among the most effective means of achieving significant water savings. Despite the tremendous potential for water conservation, these systems are not widely used in residential landscapes.

Like conventional overhead irrigation systems, low-volume systems require proper design, installation, maintenance and operation for optimum water savings and plant performance.

The primary design goal of a low volume system is to apply water to a uniform soil depth, either directly to the plant root zone or in a limited area. Water is delivered at or below the surface of the planted area versus the surface of the planted area. Most low volume irrigation systems are installed at or near the surface of the landscape area and are covered with two to three inches of mulch. Typically, this type of installation requires less time and cost that a conventional overhead system. This has been shown to be the most effective tool for maximizing water use efficient in the landscape.

For more information about Earth-Kind Low Volume Irrigation visit www.ecmga.com and click on Earth-Kind Publications.

Source: Ellis County Master Gardeners

With the start of summer just around the corner everyone always thinks of shade. Trees have been going through some tough times with the continuing drought and this summer will be no different. Proper watering of established trees is essential if they are going to survive another dry, hot summer. Even if there are water restrictions in your area, you can help your trees out with mindful watering.

One of the first signs of lack of water is a dry / burned area around the outer edge of the leaf. This is called marginal leaf burn and should not be ignored. It indicates that the tree needs more water. If you find this type of damage, don’t just turn the hose on for a day. If you have a sprinkler system double check the heads around the tree. Add more heads if needed or redirect the heads you have. For those who water by hand, watering in the morning is preferred over evening watering.

The other side of this stress is too much water. Water logged soil displaces oxygen around the root system and the tree will slowly drown. When trees are stressed they are more susceptible to insects and disease damage. The bottom line is to keep the tree properly watered.