ARMSTRONG GARDEN CENTERS PROVIDES EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW TO BEST BENEFIT FROM THE RAIN

It’s time to put on those galoshes because California is looking to receive some muchneeded rain this holiday season. There are many tips on how to conserve water during the summer months, but did you know there are also ways to be waterwise when it rains? Here are some top tips to take advantage of the precipitation that will help keep your lawn and gardens thriving:

1. When raining, manually turn sprinklers off for as long as the soil stays moist.

2. Rain barrels are your best friends to store water for long periods of dryness.

3. Clean out gutters to prevent back ups to avoid excess spillage onto unwanted areas 4. Mulch is a security blanket that helps to slow evaporation rates and retain moisture.

5. Lower your lawn mower. Cool-season lawns should be mowed shorter during winter. Your lawn will require less water to stay velvety green.

6. Don’t catch your lawn clippings, let them fall into your turf. This will provide a water-conserving mulch. Or… 7. Apply a seed cover such as top coat as a water-conserving mulch if you don’t like the look of clippings left on your lawn. After watering a few times, it will settle down into your turf and will help keep your lawn moist all winter.

8. Hillside homes that have been recently cleared and/or planted areas around their homes need to use sandbags or bags of planting mix/potting soil to direct water runoff away.

9. Remember to slide plants in containers out from under an awning so they get rain.

10. After the rain, apply a pre-emergent weed killer to stop weeds from germinating.

“Keep in mind, homeowners should still be conscious of their water usage after the rain, as there will be areas still recovering from the drought and enforced restrictions,” states Gary Jones, Chief Horticulturalist of Armstrong Garden Centers. “It’s very waterwise to conserve when it’s dry, but very important to capitalize on these free water opportunities when they become available with these tips.”

For more information on waterwise gardening, please visit www.armstronggarden.com. To schedule an interview with an Armstrong Garden Centers associate, please contact Andres Verjan or Patrick Pierce.

Armstrong Garden Centers Armstrong Garden Centers is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Since 1889, this employeeowned company has been taking the guesswork out of gardening, and is now the largest California independent retail nursery with 31 locations in California and three growing facilities. For more information on Armstrong Garden Centers and great gardening tips, visit armstronggarden.com and armstronggrowers.com.