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Community Corner

Without April Showers, Yards Are At Risk

With less than 2.75 inches of rainfall, the end of March left New York City in an extreme drought.

Last year’s winter storms kept us shoveling (and grumbling) as it set records for accumulation.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Central Park was blanketed with a total of 61.9 inches of snow, making 2010-2011 the third snowiest year in New York history. Each storm filled our reservoirs with a great wealth of water. 2012 is a different story.

With less than 2.75 inches of rainfall, the end of March left New York City in an extreme drought. Without long anticipated April showers, soil health is at risk.

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Preventing the erosion of valuable topsoil without excessive water use is key to preserving yards and gardens.

Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil, extending two to eight inches below the surface. This layer accumulates organic matter and is vital for plant life, as plants obtain nutrients from topsoil. The right balance of water is essential to topsoil preservation, as water prevents nutrient-rich topsoil from blowing away with the wind.

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Saturating topsoil isn’t necessarily the best approach to preserving soil health during a drought. There are several techniques gardeners can use to preserve soil without wasting water. These techniques are wonderful for conserving water and can also reduce water bills.

Traditional lawn sprinklers blanket lawns with water. They’re easy to use. We turn them on and walk away, but they use much more water than necessary. Watering is meant to deliver water to roots where plants need it most. Instead of wetting everything within the radius of a sprinkler, try soaker hoses or drip irrigation, which deliver water closer to roots using low water pressure.

By feeding water directly to roots, less water is used and less water evaporates. Capillary action, however, draws water towards the surface and can deplete water sources below the surface as water evaporates. Placing mulch or straw over soaker hoses can prevent evaporation, while keeping weeds away as well.

Humus, or mature compost, can help maintain water levels in soil by preventing percolation, or the trickle down effect. Essentially the opposite of evaporation, incorporating humus helps prevent water from sinking below the topsoil layer and into subsoil.

Container watering is an inexpensive alternative to drip irrigation and works essentially the same way. To make your own container system, recycle plastic milk jugs and poke two to four small holes at the bottom using a nail or knife. Bury the container near plants. Keep the container full at all times, allowing water to seep directly onto root systems. Keeping the cap off allows rainwater to collect inside as well. The relationship of plants to containers is rather simple: smaller plants need smaller containers and larger plants need larger containers. Container watering is also a great way to care for your garden while on vacation.

Garden design can also play a role in water usage. All plants have different water needs. Placing high-need plants closest to water sources, and low-need plants farther away can drastically cut water waste and keep plants happy.

The 2012 Farmer’s Almanac predicted a wet, stormy winter with above average temperatures. It predicts a wet, wild end to April and showers throughout May. Until (or if) its predictions come to fruition, let’s be frugal with our water.

Additional sources:

The Dirt Cheap Green Thumb, by Rhonda Massingham Hart

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