IN THE GARDEN WATER CLAY QUICKLY, OFTEN.Byline: JOSHUA SISKIN Q: What would be the best watering plan for Chatsworth and our clay dirt? We have just put in a timed sprinkling system, and would like your advice. - Sonia Draper A: During hot summer weather, considering that your soil is clay and slow draining, you will have to water your lawn 10 times per week, leaving the sprinklers on for five minutes per watering. The calculations are simple. Clay soil cannot absorb more than 0.2 inches of water per hour. Spray sprinklers - the kind that most people have in their lawns - deliver 0.2 inches of water in approximately five minutes. With clay soil, keeping the sprinklers on for more than five minutes will result in excess water puddling puddling: see Henry Cort. and runoff. We know that lawn grasses require 2 inches of water per week. So, if each watering delivers 0.2 inches of water, we will have to water 10 times per week (0.2 x 10 = 2). The simplest way of scheduling 10 waterings per week is to water on five days, two waterings per day - which could be set for 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. start times. The off watering days would be three/four days apart, with one off day being lawn mowing mow 1 n. 1. The place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored. 2. A stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn. day - since cutting wet grass is always a problem in any case. Mulched flower beds should require half the water of a lawn, and shrubs and ground covers half the water (or less) of a flower bed. Q: I live in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, and have a yard about 30 feet by 60 feet. My yard faces southwest and gets lots of sun. I'm looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a fast-growing tree to provide shade in the yard and for the house. I don't want lots of cleanup. Any suggestions? - Debbie A: A popular tree in Santa Clarita for your type of yard is the silk tree (Albizzia julibrissin). This tree has attractive, feathery feath·er·y adj. 1. Covered with or consisting of feathers. 2. Resembling or suggestive of a feather, as in form or lightness. feath foliage and wispy wisp n. 1. A small bunch or bundle, as of straw, hair, or grass. 2. a. One that is thin, frail, or slight. b. A thin or faint streak or fragment, as of smoke or clouds. 3. pink flowers. It does require a certain amount of clean-up (flowers, seed pods and leaves) but grows quickly with a minimum amount of water. It looks good for 15 or 20 years but may go into rapid decline after that. Another excellent tree you might consider is the London plane Noun 1. London plane - very large fast-growing tree much planted as a street tree Platanus acerifolia genus Platanus, Platanus - genus of large monoecious mostly deciduous trees: London plane; sycamore tree or Bloodgood sycamore (Platanus acerifolia Noun 1. Platanus acerifolia - very large fast-growing tree much planted as a street tree London plane genus Platanus, Platanus - genus of large monoecious mostly deciduous trees: London plane; sycamore ``Bloodgood''). It grows quickly, has attractive foliage and bark, and is a clean tree - except for some occasional mildew and annual leaf fall. Last but not least, however, I must recommend an oak. When people think of fast-growing trees, oaks usually do not appear on their list. Yet within several years, an oak can put on a fair amount of growth and begin to create shade. The oak that you mostly see on the hills and in the canyons of Santa Clarita is the coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). This tree, in time, will not only attract wildlife but also, by its stature, give your yard and home a majestic aspect that could not be matched by any other tree. In addition, oak leaves make the very best mulch mulch, any material, usually organic, that is spread on the ground to protect the soil and the roots of plants from the effects of soil crusting, erosion, or freezing; it is also used to retard the growth of weeds. money can buy, and you will have a constant supply at no charge. TIP OF THE WEEK: When planting a tree, especially in hot weather, select the largest specimen you can afford. A tree in a 24-inch or 36-inch box is obviously more expensive than a tree in a five- or 15-gallon plastic bucket, but boxed trees are far more reliable and rapid growers once planted. Newly planted large trees will also withstand extreme weather conditions - or sudden changes in weather - much better than their smaller counterparts. |
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