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| Normal rain totals from late June to late September is usually 10.8" here in the Milwaukee area. I've only had 2.5" in the last 90 days...0.25" in the last 30 days!...and its been sunny and warm for 3 straight weeks.
As a poportion of the state I was shocked to see how many counties in WI were under moderate to severe drought conditons...only a few southwest states and GA were worse in the US. Reason I am freaking out is that I finally broke down and starting doing some deep watering...literally pulling back all the mulch just past the dripline and soaking the soil. Whats the problem? There are 1" wide cracks in the ground that go almost a foot deep...couple went just inside the dripline on some plants...what the hell! After I soaked the soil, I filled the cracks with topsoil. Maybe this is all I can do? And yes all my landscaping was put in last year and this year. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by mollywankenobi 4/5 WI (My Page) on Sat, Sep 19, 09 at 23:22
| I live in Beaver Dam, WI, so I'm in the same boat (w/o water, ha!). My ground has been cracky like yours a few other times since I've lived here (3 yrs)...I have used the fill-in the crack technique too, or sometimes I kinda dig/chop at it with a shovel so it looks better. On our property it seems to happen more where there has been salt runoff from winter. The soil gets a really ugly whitish tone when dry, and all hard like baked clay (probably because it is, to some extent!), with big cracks. The ground gets REALLY ugly. Which is why, in another window, I am at this moment looking for some cool new groundcovers for those spots! And I've just been spot-watering the new guys I put in this year. I don't worry about the well-established fellows until they get wilty. But I think the hose might come out tomorrow. I have heard chance of rain Monday but the last, oh, about 6 times they've said that we've had none. Sorry I don't have any real advice but I just wanted to commiserate! |
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| Yeah most of wisconsin is in a poor position...I do have to say in my little Menomonee Falls pocket Beaver dam had so many little storms pass through in July that would always just go north of me! As you mentioned, I think I'm just venting. There isn't anything I can do at this point. But praise the lord there is a 60% chance of rain tonight...we are on day 20 with 0 percipitation. There has never been a full month with 0 percipitation, hopefully we don't break that 130 year old record...in fact it might not even exist! |
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| One of the benefits that mulch offers is improved percolation of water through soil. Besides the cooling effect, and all of the other benefits, I think you should leave the mulch on the soil and water through it. |
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