To water or not to water?

    How do you know when you are watering enough? Or for that matter, when you are watering too much? There are lots of helpful hints and tips to apply.
    Often times when we water too much or we water too little, plants respond in much the same way. The margins of the leaves will appear to brown and look crisp and dry. This is a sign that either too much or too little water is applied. If the leaves continue to brown, then this points to overwatering.
    If the leaves wilt, does it mean overwatering or not enough water? The best way to know is to check the soil. Wilting can mean the plant needs water. Sometimes, this can also mean the plant has too much water.
    Edema is another way to know that your plant is overwatered. Edema is a condition that can be caused by the environment. The symptoms are bumps, blisters or water soaked areas on the leaves. You might even think that the plant has some disease. The plants are absorbing water at a faster rate than the leaf cells can transpire, and the cells are rupturing. The only solution is just to not water. Hopefully the environmental condition improves. So, can plants drown? Yes, edema is the closest to a plant drowning.
    Yellow leaves can be a symptom of overwatering as well. If the leaves have no insects or disease issues, then it is a good possibility of overwatering. Plants drop leaves in an attempt to shed the insects and/or disease. To rule out overwatering, check the soil. With trees and shrubs, use a soil probe, and you can go deep enough to get a sample to determine where the moisture level is, if there is any. Soil probes can be purchased through an agriculture company.
    Root rot is a symptom of overwatering that happens over time. Often it goes unnoticed until it is too late. We cannot see in the soil to determine what is happening. Again, keep that soil probe handy. If at any time you are uncertain about the moisture level, use a soil probe. Too many of the other symptoms I have mentioned can point to other issues a plant may have.
    So, how do we determine how to water properly? Colorado State University Extension research has determined that a tree needs 10 gallons of water per inch of the tree’s diameter at knee height. So if you are facing the tree, measure approximately at your knee height. A tree with 12 inches of diameter will take 120 gallons of water. If we have a wet spring or lots of snow in the winter, then your trees should be in good shape. If there is a dry spring and dry winter, a good initial watering with the use of a deep root waterer in the spring will benefit the trees. A fall watering will also benefit the trees before the ground freezes.

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