Drought Strategies

Below average rainfall in many parts of the country has made water conservation a top priority. Outdoor watering restrictions are in place in many areas (check with your local water department), and we all must do our part to make every drop count. The following tips will help you keep your plants healthy during drought periods and still help you conserve water.

• Space Waterings. If you have to cut back on watering it is better to increase the time between watering rather than increase the amount of water you apply during each irrigation.
• Water Efficiently. Light sprinkling does little good for your lawn. Instead water to a depth of six to eight inches to encourage deep rooting. Most annuals, perennials and vegetables should be watered at least 12 to 18 inches deep. Water shrubs to a depth 18 to 36 inches, depending on how tall they are. Trees should be watered to a depth of at least three to four feet. Deep watering leads to deep roots and plants that can better withstand heat and drought. These deep roots offer plants a larger reservoir of moisture to draw from to withstand dry periods.
• To measure water penetration, probe the soil with a stiff rod or screwdriver. The rod or screwdriver will move easily through moist soil but will be harder to push when it reaches dry soil.
• Water early in the morning. When watering in early morning you don't lose water from evaporation like you would during the middle of the day, and you do not enhance diseases (since the water will evaporate from the leaves in a few hours) as you would by watering late in the evening or at night. (By watering late in the evening, the water sits there and provides ideal conditions for disease buildup.)
• Be Weather Conscious. Be sure to adjust your watering schedule with changes in the weather. Water less frequently during cool or wet weather, and be sure to turn off automatic systems when it rains.
• Avoid Waste. Set a timer to make sure you don’t forget sprinklers are running. To prevent runoff on lawns growing on slopes or heavy clay soils, it is best to pulse-irrigate. Run sprinklers for 10 minutes, turn them off to let the water soak in, then water for another 10 minutes. Repeat the cycle until the soil is wet to a depth of six to eight inches.
• Monitor Irrigation Systems. If you have an automated system, occasionally watch it run to make sure everything is operating properly and water isn’t being wasted through runoff or overspray.
  
• Mulch, Mulch, Mulch. Mulching cools the soil and reduces evaporation, conserving water you’ve already applied. Mulching also reduces weeds that rob desirable plants of valuable moisture.
  
• Watch for Pests. Drought-stressed plants are often more susceptible to insect attack. Protect trees and shrubs with Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control. One application protects for up to 12 months. No spraying is necessary. Just mix with water according to the label instructions and pour at the base of the plant.

Other measures such as proper mowing and regulating the use of fertilizer can also help you cut back on the amount of water your lawn requires. Follow these simple tips to help maintain a healthy lawn with less water.

• Choose Ready-to-Use. When gardening, use fertilizer and insect control products that do not require mixing with water, such as Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray.
• Time Your Applications. When applying granular insect control products such as Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Granules, be sure to time the application during a routine watering. This will allow the insect control to properly soak in without requiring additional watering. The Multi-Insect Killer Granules should not be watered in with a heavy watering. You don't want the material to soak in. Instead, you want to lightly water in to help activate the Multi-Insect Killer Granules.
• Mow Higher. Tall grass develops deeper roots for increased foliage. This foliage also provides more shading for soil to help reduce evaporation. As a general rule, set your mower at the upper end of the recommended mowing height, but remember different grasses require different mowing heights. For example:
• Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue – Set cutting height at 3 inches.
• Bermudagrass ­– Set cutting heights at 1.5 inches.
• St. Augustine – Set cutting height at 2.5 to 3 inches.
• Fertilize Less. Slower growing lawns require less water, so cutting back on fertilizer can help reduce the amount of water your lawn needs to grow strong. In addition, cool season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescue, slow down naturally and require less water during the late summer.
• Aerate Warm Season Lawns. Aerators remove small plugs of soil from the lawn increasing water penetration and soil aeration, while reducing thatch. That translates to deeper roots and a stronger lawn.

The Other Alternative
Obviously, the other alternative that will really help you save water is to let your lawn dry out and turn brown. This may be necessary in some regions where drought is severe, but this option is not as bad as it seems. Cool season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, naturally go dormant in hot weather, require less water and still recover nicely the next season.
Warm season grasses, such as Bermudagrass or St. Augustine, naturally grow most vigorously in the summer and go dormant in winter. They are also tougher grasses that get by on less water than their cool season counterparts. Even if you let them go completely dry, there’s a good chance they’ll come back next year.

Always read and follow label instructions
Bayer Advanced is a business group of Bayer CropScience LP

August Garden Checklist

Here's what needs to be done in the garden this month.

CARE FOR ROSES. Remove spent flowers to promote more blooms. Feed and protect from insects with Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Rose & Flower Care Concentrate to ensure beautiful blooms this fall.

WATER DEEPLY. Where rain has been lacking, plants may be suffering from the long, hot summer. Water deeply to wet the entire root system.

REPLENISH MULCHES. To cool the soil and conserve water, apply a fresh layer of organic mulch around landscape plants, flowers and vegetables.

PLANT FALL FLOWERS. Plant cool-season annuals like pansies, violas, calendula, snapdragons, sweet peas and primroses. They'll get a good start in this month's warm weather, then bloom long into fall (year-round in mild winter climates).

PLANT FALL VEGETABLES. Much of the country can plant cool-season vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower, spinach, chard and carrots for fall harvest.

WATCH FOR INSECTS, INDOORS AND OUT. Mosquitoes, Japanese beetles, ants, scale, spiders and borers are just a few of many insects that can cause problems this month.

CHECK IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. Watch your systems run. Fix clogs, broken or misdirected sprinklers and emitters. Left without repair, you could lose plants during hot weather.

PICK VEGETABLES. Summer vegetable gardens should be at peak production. Keep picking (every other day if needed) so that beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and the rest remain productive. If necessary, share the bounty with neighbors.

REPOT. Ease watering chores and give container plants extra root space by transplanting into larger pots.

ENJOY. Summer won't be around much longer, so enjoy the garden while you can.

For more information and great garden tips for your specific region this month, visit the Home and Garden What To Do Now.

Mowing Tips

It's the heart of lawn-mowing season and a good time to check your mower and mowing practices to make sure you're getting the best cut. Proper mowing not only keeps your lawn looking its best, it also keeps it healthier with fewer weeds. Here are some summer mowing tips:

MOW HIGH. Mowing at the upper end of the recommended mowing height for your grass type encourages deeper roots and better heat and drought tolerance since the grass helps shade the soil to reduce evaporation and maximize soil moisture content. This is a critical area which can help reduce the need for more frequent watering. Set your mower at 1-1/2 inches high for common Bermuda; 1-inch high for hybrid Bermuda; 3 inches high for tall fescue; 2-1/2 inches for Kentucky bluegrass; and 2-1/2 to 3 inches for St. Augustine.

MOW OFTEN. Mow when the lawn reaches about 1/3 higher than the recommended mowing height. For example, mow tall fescue when it reaches about 4 inches high.

KEEP BLADES SHARP AND MAINTAIN MOWER. Sharp blades give you a cleaner cut. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for sharpening blades and other mower maintenance. Or, if you have a rotary mower, simply replace the blade with a new one.

ALTERNATE MOWING DIRECTIONS. This will help prevent ruts from developing.

MOW GRASS ONLY WHEN IT'S DRY. Mowing grass when it's wet usually produces a very uneven cut. The wet grass clippings can also clump leaving a mess on the lawn and underneath your mower.

SAFETY FIRST. Keep yourself and your children safe. Review and follow manufacturer's safety instructions.

If weeds still persist in your lawn this summer use Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Weed Killer for Lawns Concentrate to help control them. It won't harm your lawn, but still kills annoying broadleaf as well as grassy weeds such as crabgrass.