Water WiselyHealthy plantsHealthy peopleHealthy planet

The Master Gardener Volunteer Program is growing with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

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Tips for maintaining a healthy lawn

� Choose drought resistant grasses such as fescues.

� Set your mower at 3” or higher to promote deeper roots.

� Water between 4 and 8 a.m. to reduce water loss due to evaporation and wind drift.

� Water when lawn starts to appear dry and dull. Wet soil to a depth of 6” each time you water.

� Audit your automatic irrigation system. � Install a rain sensor, a soil moisture

sensor, or a smart irrigation control-ler to reduce over-watering.

For more watering tips: z.umn.edu/waterwise

ResourcesYard and Garden Information www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/

What’s wrong with my plant?www.extension.umn.edu/garden/ diagnose/plant/

Plant Elements of Design plant database landscapeplants.extension.umn.edu

Gardening questions?Ask a Master Gardener volunteer 612-301-7590www.extension.umn.edu/garden/ask/

MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Knowledge is key to watering wisely

Learn about your soil type and how it influences water movement.

Know what, when, where and how to water to grow healthy plants and use water efficiently.

Tips for improving your soil

Have your soil tested to determine type and percentage of organic matter.

Sandy soils: Add organic matter such as compost to increase water-holding capacity. Feel top 6” of soil and water when dry.

Clay soils: Add organic matter such as compost to increase air space, lessen soil compaction and water run-off, and to improve water infiltration.

Tips for maintaining healthy trees and shrubsNew plants: � Water directly over the

root ball. To create a reservoir to hold water, build a 3”–4” high soil wall around the edge of the root ball. � Weeks 1 and 2:

water daily � Weeks 3–12: every

2–3 days � Then, weekly until established.

Shrubs establish in 1 to 2 years. Tree establishment depends on tree size.

� Shrubs: water with 1/4–1/3 of the vol-ume of original container

� Trees: apply 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per inch of stem diameter

Established plants: � Water early in the morning. � Feel top 6”–9” of soil. Dry? Time to water. � Roots spread 1.5–3.5x wider than the

canopy; use overhead sprinklers to cover large areas.

Tips for maintaining healthy gardens

What to water: � Choose plants that will thrive in your

existing soil type, hardiness zone, light and space.

� Know which plants require consistently moist soil and which prefer drier conditions.

� Note microclimates: dry shade, windy areas, poor drainage.

When to water: � Early morning to

reduce water loss due to evaporation and wind drift.

� Feel the top 6”–9” of soil. Dry? Time to water.

How and where to water: � Apply water at the base of plants to

avoid wet leaves and reduce foliar diseases.

� Lay out soaker hoses or drip irrigation in early spring as plants emerge.

� Water deeply and less often to promote deeper, healthier roots.

Conserve water: � Collect and use rainwater. � Choose drought-tolerant plants. � Add 2”–3” of organic mulch to conserve

moisture in soil and protect roots. � Amend sandy soil with compost to in-

crease soil’s water-holding capacity.

extension.umn.edu/garden

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