Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 30, 1990                   TAG: 9005300061
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Philip K. Blevins
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WATERING RIGHT IS A GROWING ART

Dry periods may occur during critical stages of plant growth. During these times, watering is necessary to get maximum production or beauty. As with most things, there is a right way and a wrong way to water. Here are some watering tips:

1. Water at the rate of a half-inch per hour. More than this can cause runoff. Place a coffee can within the reach of sprinklers and check at 15-minute intervals to determine rate.

2. Be sure a sprinkler is above the crop to prevent the water being diverted by plant leaves. Keep the pattern even by moving the sprinkler frequently, overlapping half of each pattern.

3. Avoid uneven watering. Wet foliage overnight encourages disease development. Morning is the best time for watering.

4. Water enough to wet the soil to a depth of 5-6 inches. This will require about an inch of water. It will result in deeper rooting.

5. Allow the soil to begin to dry between waterings.

6. Know critical watering period for plants to reduce the amount of water you need to add.

7. Consider a soaker hose for vegetables.

\ Graze to let clover grow

After the wet season of 1989 and our mild winter, clover is abundant in most pastures. The nutritional value it adds, especially in fescue pasture, is substantial.

To maintain clover, competition from grasses must be held to a minimum. As the grass gets taller than 6-8 inches, the clover is shaded, reducing both vigor and growth.

To help the clover, either graze pasture fields or strip graze. Pasture that is not being grazed should be mowed for hay or clipped.

Editor's note: This column was inadvertently left out of its regular spot on Thursday