31 March 2010

Watering in the rain

| GardeningGirl
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On a day when the news even reported flooding in some areas due to the rain, and it had rained the previous day, why was there a tanker watering the trees on the corner of Athlon Drive and Drakeford Drive?

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troll-sniffer6:38 pm 01 Apr 10

I wish the software on this site would fix up the problem with selecting a quote the second time!!!

troll-sniffer6:37 pm 01 Apr 10

justin heywood said :

troll-sniffer said :

I doubt it. We have had significantly above average rainfall during the last 2 months. It ain’t going to get much wetter than it is now. Most of the applied water will just run off and be wasted.

.

But you didn’t do the test did you? So you doubt something that the rural community knows to be a fact. Your knowledge of soil penetration after a prolonged drought is something you’ve studied perhaps? Because it sure differs from my practical experience.

SolarPowered1:22 pm 01 Apr 10

Just because we get 20mm of rain doesn’t mean it has gone deep into the root system. Those guys dig around the base of the tree so that the water is delivered to the roots. Rain water can just run off down the drain.

justin heywood12:49 pm 01 Apr 10

troll-sniffer said :

I bet if you had a spade and dug into the soil around where the trees were being watered you’d have found dry soil at 4″ (10cm) or less. The rain may have appeared to have been ample but appearances can be deceiving.

I doubt it. We have had significantly above average rainfall during the last 2 months. It ain’t going to get much wetter than it is now. Most of the applied water will just run off and be wasted.

As to contracts (which allow for weather) being ‘mind bogglingly’ complex and expensive, how about this for a clause. ‘DON’T water in the rain, you’re just wasting water and making us look stupid’.

How complex is that?

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SmileOnTrial12:36 pm 01 Apr 10

The tanker driver gets paid to water. He doesnt care if its raining or not.

GardeningGirl11:51 am 01 Apr 10

From http://www.actew.com.au/SaveWaterForLife/HowToSaveWater/your_garden.aspx
“And remember, only water your garden when you need to. Once a week is often enough so don’t just water because you can. And if it rains, don’t double up by watering as well.”

I suspect Troll-sniffer’s explanation is true, but it’s good to know it may have been beneficial anyway.

Thank you Woody.
😉

troll-sniffer11:39 am 01 Apr 10

imhotep said :

How Canberra is this. Local government contractors watering trees in the rain. People defending the practice on the local website. Common sense completely absent.

Where’s the lack of common sense? Valid explanations have been provided. Or did you decide before you read the reasonable posts that your mind was already made up?

How Canberra is this. Local government contractors watering trees in the rain. People defending the practice on the local website. Common sense completely absent.

Woody Mann-Caruso6:19 pm 31 Mar 10

by NOTSOGOODATGARDENINGGIRL

Fixed that for you.

A good phrase to kickstart your armchair research into the topic of watering while it’s wet is Wetting Front.

justin heywood11:07 am 31 Mar 10

cmdwedge said :

It’s actually most effective to water gardens/plants whilst it’s already raining/rained recently. You get the least evaporation and more water makes it to the roots.

Fair enough yesterday, as it was a short, sharp storm. But I have seen these guys out there watering trees after significant rain. In terms of ‘efficiency’, surely it is better to spend the money and the water during long, hot, dry spells rather than during reasonably wet times.

troll-sniffer10:52 am 31 Mar 10

Probably a simple explanation of the contract having been put in place and no mechanism for changing its conditions due to rainy weather. The logistics of changing a contract to suit the weather would be mind-boggling and more expensive than just accepting the odd anomaly such as the situation outlined here.

Trees benefit most from deep soaking so adding water even in apparently wet times is beneficial. I bet if you had a spade and dug into the soil around where the trees were being watered you’d have found dry soil at 4″ (10cm) or less. The rain may have appeared to have been ample but appearances can be deceiving.

Fair dinkum.

It’s actually most effective to water gardens/plants whilst it’s already raining/rained recently. You get the least evaporation and more water makes it to the roots.

According to Don Burke, that’s the most efficient time to water.

When faced with the decision to either sit in the office doing paper work under the watchful eyes of management, or spend the day watering stuff in the outdoors and fresh air. My unmotivated, lazy, poorly managed self would probably do the same.

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