LOYALTON IS IN A DROUGHT due to watering restrictions and the need to replace a 10” main water line.
Due to the crisis, residents weren’t allowed outside watering at all for several days following the 4th of July. The City’s residents are now on watering restrictions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. (SATURDAYS ARE MORNINGS.) Commercial users may water the same schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Of particular concern is for the trees. One common recommendation is to use raked leaves as mulch around trees, shrubs and perennials. Mulch holds in soil moisture, protecting roots, moderating soil temperatures, and reducing stress on landscape plants.
According to UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County, “Evergreens are an example of a tree type that tends to be lost if it has suffered too much. This is because their ability to regenerate a whole new set of foliage (like deciduous trees can) is not there.” Specific instructions came from eHow: “Give the tree 1 to 3 inches of water every week, unless moisture comes in the form of rainfall. Watering deeply once or twice weekly is better than more frequent, shallow irrigation, as deep watering will develop long, healthy roots. Shallow roots will be more prone to damage from drought.”
Local fruit trees have produced a bumper crop this year and apple, cherry, apricot, peach and plum trees are laden with ripening fruit. They are said to be somewhat drought tolerant. A good rule of thumb for how much water to give fruit trees is to water deeply once a week or once a month depending on the weather, soil condition and age of tree. peppershomeandgarden.com says, “Mature trees need 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week. Young apple trees need 2 inches (5 cm) of water weekly. Daily watering is not beneficial to apple trees.” And “The rough rule of thumb we use is that a mature fruit tree, with a full crop, in the height of summer, will need about 200 litres (52 gallons) of water per week,” is according to growgreatfruit.com.
Due to the crisis, residents weren’t allowed outside watering at all for several days following the 4th of July. The City’s residents are now on watering restrictions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. (SATURDAYS ARE MORNINGS.) Commercial users may water the same schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Of particular concern is for the trees. One common recommendation is to use raked leaves as mulch around trees, shrubs and perennials. Mulch holds in soil moisture, protecting roots, moderating soil temperatures, and reducing stress on landscape plants.
According to UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County, “Evergreens are an example of a tree type that tends to be lost if it has suffered too much. This is because their ability to regenerate a whole new set of foliage (like deciduous trees can) is not there.” Specific instructions came from eHow: “Give the tree 1 to 3 inches of water every week, unless moisture comes in the form of rainfall. Watering deeply once or twice weekly is better than more frequent, shallow irrigation, as deep watering will develop long, healthy roots. Shallow roots will be more prone to damage from drought.”
Local fruit trees have produced a bumper crop this year and apple, cherry, apricot, peach and plum trees are laden with ripening fruit. They are said to be somewhat drought tolerant. A good rule of thumb for how much water to give fruit trees is to water deeply once a week or once a month depending on the weather, soil condition and age of tree. peppershomeandgarden.com says, “Mature trees need 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week. Young apple trees need 2 inches (5 cm) of water weekly. Daily watering is not beneficial to apple trees.” And “The rough rule of thumb we use is that a mature fruit tree, with a full crop, in the height of summer, will need about 200 litres (52 gallons) of water per week,” is according to growgreatfruit.com.
