|
STREET ADDRESS Wake County 4001-E Carya Dr Raleigh, NC 27610-2914 (919) 250-1100 Phone (919) 250-1097 Fax Map & Mailing Information 
|
|
| ContainerSize(gal) | RootBallDia-meter(in) | Root BallHeight(in) | Root BallVolume(cubic feet) | Area of SoilOver Root Ball When Planted(square feet) | Water Receivedfrom 1 Inch Rainfall(gallons) |
| 1 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 0.14 | 0.31 | 0.19 |
| 2 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 0.25 | 0.39 | 0.24 |
| 3 | 11 | 8 | 0.44 | 0.66 | 0.41 |
| 5 | 12 | 10 | 0.65 | 0.78 | 0.48 |
| 7 | 14 | 11 | 0.98 | 1.1 | 0.68 |
| 15 | 18 | 15 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.1 |
| 25 | 24 | 17 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 1.9 |
One published guideline suggests that trees and shrubs transplanted from small containers (1 to 3 gallon size) require about 3 to 5 gallons of water twice weekly until they become established. An inch of rain provides 0.62 gallons of water per square foot. The table shows that rainfall alone is far from sufficient to meet this requirement. It cannot be assumed that a uniform application of water over a bed containing plants with different size root-balls will achieve the required water since the root ball varies depending on the size of the container. It would be better to water each plant separately, varying the application time in proportion to ball size.
The actual amount of water you need to supply will depend on the “water-friendliness” of your soil. In a “water-friendly” soil the water will pass through to the subsoil layer at a rate that is slow enough for the roots to make use of it, but not so slowly that the roots are drowned. The goal in watering is to periodically provide enough water to moisten all the soil and roots, including the bottom of the root-ball, but to avoid having such an excess of water. Air should not be excluded from the root zone for a prolonged period. Roots have to breathe too!
Benefits of Mulch
Mulch is an important component of a WaterWise garden. It is a garden blanket with special properties. It reduces evaporation of soil water. It moderates soil temperature fluctuations by reducing heating in summer and cooling in winter. By preventing sunlight from falling on the soil, it greatly reduces germination of resident weed seeds. Mulch reduces soil erosion by holding soil in place and slowing water runoff. And finally, as it breaks down, it enriches the soil.
Pine bark, pine straw, shredded bark, compost, wood chips, gravel, stones, and crushed brick are among the materials commonly employed as mulch. Mulch is also being made from ground up automobile tires and other unusual materials. The material selected should be weed-free, non-matting, easy to apply and readily available.It is important to keep the mulch permeable so water can readily pass into the soil. Some plant materials can create problems when used as mulch. Sawdust and leaves may form a thick mat making water penetration impossible, and sawdust may tie up nutrients for years while it decomposes.
Mulching material should be spread about 3 inches thick over the bare soil, but kept 2 to 3 inches away from the base of plants to prevent bark decay and to discourage voles from chewing the bark. Because organic mulch does break down over time it is important to renew the mulched area. New mulch that is simply spread over existing mulch.
Some weed seeds may travel from neighboring areas and germinate in the mulch but these can be uprooted easily from loose mulch. A thicker than normal layer of mulch may be applied during winter to prevent roots of tender plants from freezing. To stimulate plant growth in the spring, it may be advisable to rake away the mulch to allow the ground temperature to increase. When plant growth has been stimulated, the mulch should be returned to a depth of about 3 inches.
Dont's of Mulch
Don’t assume that if 2 to 3 inches of mulch is good, then 6 inches will be better. If a mulch layer is too thick roots may grow in the mulch instead of in the soil. Avoid mulching an area that is poorly drained because it may exacerbate the problem.
WaterWise Tip: Don’t forget mulch – it’s your soil’s security blanket!
Lawn Care
SECTION TO BE POSTED SOON.
,WaterWise Tip:
Control Yard Pests
Landscape maintenance occasionally necessitates the use of chemicals to correct a problem. It is important that the problem and the prescribed solution are accurately identified before any corrective action is taken so that there is minimal impact on the garden and its surroundings. Your local Master Gardener Volunteer hot line is a good resource to consult beforehand. In Wake County the telephone number is 919-250-1084. Hopefully chemicals such as fertilizer, weed killer, insecticide and lime stay where applied and do the job for which they were intended. But sometimes the chemicals fall in unintended locations, perhaps scattered inadvertently on the driveway or street. Or a gardener may use a granular herbicide which results in a large portion of the chemical falling ineffectively onto the ground rather than onto weed foliage. These small chemical particles may remain in place until rainwater washes the hard surfaces, dissolves the chemicals and carries them into sewers, then streams, and eventually larger bodies of water. These foreign materials can reach a concentration that has an adverse effect on both the plant and animal kingdom. Part of the WaterWise concept is an awareness of the far-reaching implications of our use of chemicals in the landscape and their potential to contaminate water supplies. Use chemicals sparingly, only as needed, and only where needed. Take extra precaution to avoid spills. Pickup fertilizer that lands on hard surfaces; don’t wash it into the drain. Use spot applications of liquid herbicides directly on weeds; broad applications of granular herbicides is an ineffective method of weed control because little of the product contacts weed foliage while the remainder falls to the surface from which it is eventually carried away in runoff.
WaterWise Tip: Storm drains do not carry water to treatment plants; they ultimately discharge to our streams. Chemicals and waste washed from hard surfaces by storm water are deposited in the streams also. You can reduce water contamination through careful use of landscape chemicals.
Protect Water Quality
Landscape maintenance occasionally necessitates the use of chemicals to correct a problem. It is important that the problem and the prescribed solution are accurately identified before any corrective action is taken so that there is minimal impact on the garden and its surroundings. Your local Master Gardener Volunteer hot line is a good resource to consult beforehand. In Wake County the telephone number is 919-250-1084. Hopefully chemicals such as fertilizer, weed killer, insecticide and lime stay where applied and do the job for which they were intended. But sometimes the chemicals fall in unintended locations, perhaps scattered inadvertently on the driveway or street. Or a gardener may use a granular herbicide which results in a large portion of the chemical falling ineffectively onto the ground rather than onto weed foliage. These small chemical particles may remain in place until rainwater washes the hard surfaces, dissolves the chemicals and carries them into sewers, then streams, and eventually larger bodies of water. These foreign materials can reach a concentration that has an adverse effect on both the plant and animal kingdom. Part of the WaterWise concept is an awareness of the far-reaching implications of our use of chemicals in the landscape and their potential to contaminate water supplies. Use chemicals sparingly, only as needed, and only where needed. Take extra precaution to avoid spills. Pickup fertilizer that lands on hard surfaces; don’t wash it into the drain. Use spot applications of liquid herbicides directly on weeds; broad applications of granular herbicides is an ineffective method of weed control because little of the product contacts weed foliage while the remainder falls to the surface from which it is eventually carried away in runoff.
WaterWise Tip: Storm drains do not carry water to treatment plants; they ultimately discharge to our streams. Chemicals and waste washed from hard surfaces by storm water are deposited in the streams also. You can reduce water contamination through careful use of landscape chemicals.
Economic and Envrionmental Benefits
Determine how many hours of sunlight each area receives and select plants accordingly; full sun plants need at least 6 hours direct sunlight, other plants are happier with less sun exposure, and some cannot tolerate any direct sunlight.Economic
The only free water is that which comes from the sky. All other water we use has an associated cost, either direct or indirect.
Direct costs are fairly obvious. Many homeowners receive their water from a public utility and pay a fee for each gallon used. Often an additional fee is levied for implied sewage costs. Many utilities charge about $4.00 per 1000 gallons of water but combined fees amounting to $8.00 per 1000 gallons are not unusual. Gardeners who obtain their water from wells rather than a public utility are not free from direct costs. Their water related costs appear less frequently but when a pump is replaced or a new well must be drilled the costs can be very sizable.
During each week of a dry spell a garden of 100 square feet will require about 600 gallons to replace the missing 1 inch of rain. At a fee of $4.00/1000 gallon, that supplemental watering costs about $2.50 per week; supplemental watering of a 5000 square foot lawn will cost about $12 per week or $48 per month. Over the course of the growing season the cost of supplemental water can be appreciable. By using low-water-need plants and replacing portions of lawn with natural areas the need for supplemental water and its associated costs can be greatly reduced. In addition, reduction of lawn size reduces the need for, and the cost of, fertilizer and chemicals used in lawn maintenance.
Indirect water costs are less obvious but not necessarily less expensive in the long term. North Carolina Division of Water Resources reports that about 50% of North Carolina’s population depends on ground water. When overuse of water lowers the water table to an insufficient level, wells dry up and individuals and communities people are left without a water supply. When landscape chemicals are carried away in runoff they slowly contaminate streams and reduce sources of clean water. Correcting problems such as these is very costly and we all share those costs through higher taxes and fees.
WaterWise Tip: Contaminated water supplies and sediment-choked waterways is not a legacy we should give future generations. It is in everyone’s interest to reduce erosion and use landscape chemicals prudently.
Environmental
WaterWise landscaping can provide benefits to us and our communities and help protect and conserve our water resources. We must learn to use water wisely. It is estimated that in the United States each of us personally uses an average of 60 to 100 gallons of water every day. Water is a valuable and finite resource which we cannot continue to use as if the supply were unlimited. North Carolina’s freshwater supplies, including wells and reservoirs, rely on adequate rainfall and good water infiltration into the soil. Excessive use of water from public supplies as well as from private wells depletes our groundwater; in coastal areas it results in saltwater contamination of groundwater as sea water fills areas once occupied by fresh water. Water rationing and outright bans on watering landscapes in recent years have imposed severe limitations on commercial landscapes and home gardeners. Many municipal water authorities may be forced to restrict water use further if future shortages occur. Our water supplies are threatened not only by overuse, but also by contamination. Pollutants such as nitrogen, pet waste and sediment are carried into groundwater by water percolating through the soil and washed into streams and lakes by surface runoff. Home lawns and landscapes, as well as commercial and public properties, contribute to such pollution when improper water management and chemicals or pathogens reach our water supplies. The environmental balance in our rivers and other water bodies is threatened by such pollution. Protecting our water supplies should be a concern of all North Carolinians. By using WaterWise landscape practices, homeowners will help protect our water resources from overuse and contamination. Simple changes in plant choices and maintenance practices can dramatically cut landscape fertilization and irrigation needs and help reduce contamination of North Carolina’s waterways and threats to our drinking water. If proper methods are employed, a WaterWise landscape will have the lush and green look we expect in our North Carolina landscapes, with the added benefit of saving you money in the process!WaterWise Tip: The University of Michigan reports that only ~0.007% of all freshwater on earth is accessible for direct human uses. This is the water found in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and those underground sources that are shallow enough to be tapped at an affordable cost. Only this amount is regularly renewed by rain and snowfall, and is therefore available on a sustainable basis. The demands on that fragile supply keep increasing due to population growth; in some parts of the world demand already exceeds supply. We must become good stewards of our precious resource!