Friday

tip-o-day

If you are a flower, shrub or even a tree and you live with us - don't get too rooted. Our yard is my artistic wife's outdoor canvas. She moves plants around like rearranging furniture.
She recently moved a 15 foot tree while I was out running errands one day. I came home to find her out in the back yard with the job completed. (she did admit to possibly misjudging its size and mobility once she got it out of the ground).

Anyway... if you have a tree or shrub that can use some extra watering, such as during a transplant, get one of those 5 gallons buckets (you can get pickle buckets or compound buckets for free) and using a nail put a couple/few holes in the bottom. Fill the bucket with water and set it next to the truck of your tree to deliver slow steady water to the roots over a period of time.

This method works great during drought. We have had a couple of doozy droughts in the 20 years we've been in our house. You may notice in your own yard were the large, major roots of a tree have come to the surface making a lump in yard. This happens when trees are in stress and in search of moisture. One year it was so bad we had set out about 10 buckets around the yard to save mature trees showing signs of wilting. After an hour or so you could see the tree getting perkier. You can also use these water buckets when you plant something beyond the reach of your hose.