🎥 Saturated soil means irrigation systems should be shut down

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Now that we’re well into autumn and Hays received several rainfalls earlier this month, it’s time to shut down automatic irrigation systems for the season.

Holly Dickman, water conservation specialist for the city of Hays, says it may be tempting to water lawns and landscapes during occasional warmer days, but doing so can actually be harmful to plants and turfgrass.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have abundant rainfall this year,” Dickman said. “The soil for the most part is saturated so additional irrigation is not necessary. It can actually do some damage to those root systems and cause problems down the road.

“We’re having cooler temperatures and the growing season has essentially come to an end.”

Soil that is kept constantly saturated deprives plant roots of needed oxygen which can lead to stressed and poorly functioning root systems.

“Unhealthy roots ultimately lead to unhealthy plants.”

Shredded leaves can loosen heavy clay soil allowing water to percolate down to plant roots rather than running off.

Dickman also noted the recent hard freeze caused many trees to quickly drop their leaves but there’s no need for raking.

Instead she recommends waiting until the soil is slightly dry and then using the leaves as organic matter for a more water efficient landscape.

“A simple way to give existing turfgrass some organic matter is to shred those fallen leaves with a mulching mower,” Dickman said, “and allow them to filter down into the turfgrass.”