Make the most of your irrigation; Green Acres offers free workshops
What month is this? These Easter lilies bloomed in July in Sacramento. Like all lilies, they appreciate consistent irrigation. Debbie Arrington
July is Sacramento’s hottest month of the year – and when we use the most outdoor irrigation.
Are you getting the most out of your sprinklers or drip system?
Now is a good time to do a quick check-up of your irrigation system – if you haven’t already. Walk around your landscape while the system is running and take note of which heads are doing what – are they blocked by foliage, gushing geysers into the air or not working at all?
With drip systems, hunt for dry spots where emitters may be blocked. Plunge a moisture meter or 6-inch screwdriver into the soil; if it’s too dry, there may be an issue.
One easy fix that will save water: Upgrade to high-efficiency rotary sprinkler heads. These rotating nozzles put out streams of heavy droplets that allow for better coverage and less evaporation than traditional spray heads. They can be installed with a screwdriver. Rebates may be available; check www.bewatersmart.info.
Just make sure to change all the heads on an irrigation station. A mix of heads makes for uneven distribution – dry spots and wet spots – and an unhealthy landscape.
Want to learn more about irrigation? Get answers to your watering questions? Check out these free workshops Saturday at all locations of Green Acres Nursery & Supply.
At 10 a.m. July 8, every Green Acres will host “Irrigation 101: Water Efficiency,” an information-packed seminar that simplifies this essential topic. Green Acres irrigation experts will walk participants through the steps of retrofitting sprinklers and upgrading technology. They’ll also answer questions about specific circumstances. Green Acres stocks many of these irrigation components and staff will help participants pick out the right parts for their irrigation needs.
Green Acres nurseries are located in Sacramento, Auburn, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Rocklin and Roseville.
For more details and directions: https://idiggreenacres.com/.
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Thanks to Our Sponsor!
Local News
Sites We Like
Garden Checklist for week of Nov. 3
November still offers good weather for fall planting:
* If you haven't already, it's time to clean up the remains of summer. Pull faded annuals and vegetables. Prune dead or broken branches from trees.
* Now is the best time to plant most trees and shrubs. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from fall and winter rains.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Keep planting bulbs to spread out your spring bloom. Some possible suggestions: daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, tulips, anemones and scillas.
* This is also a good time to seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Rake and compost leaves, but dispose of any diseased plant material. For example, if peach and nectarine trees showed signs of leaf curl this year, clean up under trees and dispose of those leaves instead of composting.
* Save dry stalks and seedpods from poppies and coneflowers for fall bouquets and holiday decorating.
* For holiday blooms indoors, plant paperwhite narcissus bulbs now. Fill a shallow bowl or dish with 2 inches of rocks or pebbles. Place bulbs in the dish with the root end nestled in the rocks. Add water until it just touches the bottom of the bulbs. Place the dish in a sunny window. Add water as needed.
* Give your azaleas, gardenias and camellias a boost with chelated iron.
* For larger blooms, pinch off some camellia buds.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while dormant.
* To help prevent leaf curl, apply a copper fungicide spray to peach and nectarine trees after they lose their leaves this month. Leaf curl, which shows up in the spring, is caused by a fungus that winters as spores on the limbs and around the tree in fallen leaves. Sprays are most effective now.
Powered by California Local
