WHAT’S WITH WATERING?
WHAT’S WITH WATERING?
WHAT’S WITH WATERING?
Newly planted landscapes can initially be stressful. Your backyard has gone from a…
…fallout shelter to a veritable oasis, but how do you take care of all this new plant material? We get that no one’s born with a green thumb. We’ve had to work pretty hard at it ourselves! So we’ve compiled a list of the most common ailments with water in the landscape and how to look out for them to keep your garden thriving.
Overwatering
- Overly-saturated soil
- Yellowing leaves and wilting If the plant is limp and sagging, it is overwatered
- Slowed growth
- Brown patchy spots on leaves While this may look like an underwatering problem, its an indication that the plant cells took up too much water and burst, killing the cells and turning them brown
If your landscape meets this criteria, chances are you’re overwatering. Let it dry out for a few days before testing the soil at different points throughout your landscape by sticking your finger into the soil about 2–3 inches. When the soil is no longer wet, resume watering—though this time at a reduced rate than before. Keep periodically checking the soil until you have a good watering schedule.
Underwatering
- Dry, dusty, and/or cracked soil
- Browning, crispy leaves Crispy, dried margins or leaf tips means die off
- Stunted growth
- Noxious weed colonization If the weeds seem to be thriving more than your plants, it may be a sign that conditions are too harsh for the more delicate ornamentals
If your landscape meets this criteria, chances are you’re overwatering. Let it dry out for a few days before testing the soil at different points throughout your landscape by sticking your finger into the soil about 2–3 inches. When the soil is no longer wet, resume watering—though this time at a reduced rate than before. Keep periodically checking the soil until you have a good watering schedule.
