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Landscape wateringBy Tara McKnight Texas AgriLife Extension Service , Wichita County With our temperatures well into the 100s, homeowners need to remember to water their landscapes. Water for trees and shrubs is critical in times where rainfall is lacking. Well maintained trees and shrubs greatly increase the value of your home. Without water, these plants will begin to suffer and may die. We recommend one inch of water per week for your plants, whether it is grass, shrubs or trees. If you don't water your landscape for the plants be sure and water against the foundation of your home. This can help keep your slab from cracking. If you are able to water your landscape, please remember the grass. Some individuals and organizations continue to question the need for turfgrass in our landscape; believing that turfgrass waste water and require too much pesticides and fertilizers that can be harmful to the environment. With the extended drought condition in our area, turfgrasses are coming under even more scrutiny. It is important to recognize that turfgrasses provide many benefits to the environment. Listed below are some of the major benefits of turfgrass. --Turfgrasses act as a great air filter. It is estimated that turfgrass areas trap some 12 million tons of dust and dirt in a year's time. Just one acre of grass can absorb hundreds of pounds of fossil fuel-created sulfur dioxide in a year. --Turfgrass growing in lawns can act as a sink for carbon dioxide. This process is referred to as "carbon sequestration". The ability of a plant to take up carbon into its leaves, roots and other plant parts is seen as a way to reduce excess carbon in the air from the burning of fossil fuels which, it is theorized, causes global warming. Researchers at Colorado State and the USDA-ARS estimated that golf course greens and fairways alone can sequester up to 1 ton per hectare (2.47 acres) of carbon per year. --Turfgrasses act as nature's air conditioner. In a city block of eight homes, the front lawns have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air-conditioning. Without turfgrasses in the urban areas, temperatures would rise significantly. Everyone knows how much hotter it is standing in the middle of a parking lot versus a park. --Turfgrasses are a good source of oxygen. A 2,500 square foot lawn can produce enough oxygen for a family of four. --Grass contributes greatly to improving the underlying, existing soil. The lawn can continually improve topsoil by producing new plants with roots that have their own life cycle, adding organic matter as plant parts die off and decompose. --Grass/soil systems have the ability to trap large amounts of water. A healthy 10,000 square foot lawn can absorb more than 6,000 gallons of rainwater without noticeable runoff. The water nourishes the grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers before soaking through the topsoil to replenish groundwater. One important fact to remember: Wichita Falls has water restrictions year round. You cannot use a sprinkler between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. This is good advice for every homeowner, not just those living in Wichita Falls. The best time to water is early in the morning. Remember to water deeply all at once if possible, not frequently. This will help your plants develop deep roots. If you water every other day for a short period of time, the plant roots will be shallow and the plant will require more water. If you water one inch all in one morning (although it make take several rounds of the sprinkler), your plants will develop deeper, healthier roots which enable the plant to withstand drought better. Your garden and landscape questions are always welcome. You may either contact me at our County Extension office, 940-716-8610, or by e-mail, tcmcknight@ag.tamu.edu. You are always encouraged to visit the Wichita County Master Gardner website at www.overthegardengate.org. Another great website to visit for very useful garden hints and answers is http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/. This article, along with every article, will also be featured on www.joetomwhite.com 24 hours a day under county agents. 8/11/08 Date: 8/5/08
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