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YARD AND GARDEN

Classy gardeners use a watering can

Short of the 4th and the many county fairs, July doesn't really have much going for it except heat, humidity, more heat and more humidity. Occasionally we'll get a great sunset or a thunderstorm rolling across the horizon. More often than not, we sweat and wish for December. Not that August is that much better with no recognized holidays at all. If we wiped out July, August might not seem so bad. We can't really blame August for what July initiated.
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Garden plants don't look so bad at the beginning of the month. But they all suck up water as if there's no tomorrow by the end. Most of the plants practically grovel (okay, it's really wilting) every day for a thorough drink.

The simple watering can might do the trick. (I really wanted to say the watering can can, but it didn't seem grammatically correct, and some might think I'm referring to a water dance.) Okay, quick. What do you call the screw on thing at the end of the watering can where the water goes through? Keep reading and I'll tell you later. Metal watering cans look great, even if you misplace them in the garden. They look natural and seem to say, hey, I'm a classy gardener. Sort of English. You can leave them out through thunderstorms or even in the winter, provided they don't walk away. Some of the old cans have dents and dings, which only add to their allure and history. Maybe some world class gardener used the can to create those award winning tomatoes. We keep
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telling ourselves that instead of recognizing the fact that in the first and probably most of second half of the last century, those were the only types of cans on the market. Not that plastic ones don't have their place. I keep one hidden in the bushes to do lots of watering and have the metal ones lying about to impress people. When I'm done, the green plastic one goes back beneath the bushes.

Plastic ones only cost a fingernail and after lots of watering, don't weigh as much. Its easier to put water-soluble fertilizer in a plastic can and not worry that you're causing any rusting or leaving something that turns the can blue.

Unfortunately, most watering cans only hold a gallon of water. It takes lots of filling and watering. Lots of trips to the faucet and waiting while the can is filling. That's too much time. And too much lifting. Gardeners don't have arms like Arnold or Sylvester. Nor do we want them.

It's also difficult to water properly. Properly means watering the soil and not the plant. Of course, you can say by watering the leaves you are washing them and giving them a needed shower. Sure, keep telling yourself that's acceptable.

We get bored easily. We start out letting the water slowly ooze through the end, letting the water stream out in a hundred little arches, but after a few minutes, we start letting the water dump out over the top. Or we remove that special thing at the end of the can, and let the water flow out quickly.

That defeats one of the purposes of the watering can, which is to provide water slowly so it doesn't wash away the soil or the plant. Its what makes it a pain to use after awhile. Granted, if you mulch, then the water flow can be a little faster. But a watering can is still one of the gardeners best friends. You don't have to worry about unrolling and rolling out the hose, or worry about what its rubbing against or over. You don't have to connect anything. You can water where, when and how you want. And it gives you total control. You are the master of the watering universe. Oh, the special thing at the end is called a rose. Great conversation opener, I bet.

David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, University of Illinois Extension. You can write to Robson in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: (217) 782-6515. E-Mail: robsond@mail.aces.uiuc.edu

JULY 2001 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LlVING


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