Rain guages can be beautiful as well as functional
What I never realized, though, is that over-watering can actually kill mature – and otherwise hardy – trees. In fact, it seems to be a pretty common problem in some areas of the country. But how do you know when enough is enough? Do you withhold water until the leaves begin to droop? Until your grass is crispy? Until the ground begins to turn to dust and blow away? When is the right time to break out the sprinkler?
Probably the best way is to monitor the condition of the soil. You can do that with a simple little device called a moisture meter. Simply insert the probe into the soil and you’ll know instantly if you need to water or not. Be sure to buy one that includes instructions for many different plants, because every plant has different needs.
Or if low-tech is more your speed, you can use a handy rain guage to keep track of how much rain you’ve received. Your local cooperative extension office should be able to tell you how much water the native plants in the area require, and then it’s just a matter of adding more if necessary.
