Water and Watering
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| Flat Back Rain Barrel $159.00 USD |
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Being an organic gardener means being aware of the resources used in the garden and the wider applications of their use, and this includes water. Water conservation, storage, and recycling are essential organic strategies.
Organic methods of soil care and management, careful plant choice, and correct timing and appropriate delivery of water help to minimize use of this scarce and valuable resource as well as avoid the problems of drought and overwatering,
Shortage of water – affects plants in a number of ways depending on the type of the plant and the extent of the water shortage. Plant vigor in general will be lower, resulting in smaller slowing growing plants.Flowers may drop, fruits will be reduced in both size and quantity, and leafy vegetable crops such as lettuce and cabbage will be much less productive. Some plants will ‘bolt’(flower prematurely) from lack of water. Annuals will flower for only a very short period before dying.
A shortage of water can result in nutrient deficiencies or imbalances because the plants are unable to absorb what they need through their roots. Plants become more susceptible to disease and pest attack when water is scarce. Powdery mildew, potato scap, blossom end rot, and aphids and whiteflies are all caused by lack of water.
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| Black Wireless Rain Gauge w/ Self-Emptying Bucket |
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Excess water or watering – will also effect plant growth negatively. A wet soils warms much more slowly in spring and young plants are more likely to succumb to pest and diseases. When the pore spaces are filled with water, oxygen is driven out of the soil, creating anaerobic conditions which can cause roots to die due to oxygen shortage..
Symptoms of excess water or watering are sickly yellow drooping foliage, rotted roots, and the presence of snails and slugs. Other problems include nutrients washing away, soil structure damage, and leafy plant growth at the expense of flowers. Excess watering causes some plants to root shallowly making them more susceptible to water shortage or drought. Water Timer Analog Electronic: J
is an affective water management tool.
Making Best Use of Water
| Give Priority to seedlings, transplants, and newly planted specimans |
| Water early in the morning |
| Apply water directly to the soil, not the plants |
| Soak ground well, do not water just the surface |
| Water at critical growth stages |
| Do not water plants that do not need it |
| Use a soaker hose rather than a sprinkler |
| Use a timer to control supply |
| Do not water lawns |