Soil dries out super fast!

annasartasylum 3/14/2014, 4:55 pm

I started gardening last fall and I could water every other day or less. Now it got a little warmer (around 70F) and the soil dries out like crazy. I watered this morning and few hours later the soil is completely dry few inches deep. My seeds don't germinate because I can't keep up with watering. I had to sow watermelon seeds again today and I covered the bed with white planket so they wont dry out again. It's super annoying. I don't even want to think what will happen when it's 90-100F in a few weeks.
I used probably 50% compost and the rest is peat moss and vermiculite.
Should I mulch and what should I use/ where do I get it? Would drip irrigation help?
I would appreciate any help. Thank you

**sanderson** 3/14/2014, 5:27 pm

Mulch!! 1 or 2 inches or more. I use playground wood chips. Others use different products like straw or pine needles. It's 80 degrees here and my MM is drying quickly. Time to finish mulching around my seedlings.

For direct sowing, I use little sections of TP rolls to keep the mulch off the direct spot of the seeds. May be overkill, but it works for me. I remove them when I think the seedling can fend off drifting chips. Onions from seeds:
Soil dries out super fast! Tp_rol10

Direct sowed carrot seedlings in plastic containers.
Soil dries out super fast! Little18

annasartasylum 3/14/2014, 8:12 pm

Thank you Sanderson! The TP roll idea is great!! I was wondering how to put mulch around seedlings without them getting covered up. I will get mulch asap!

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Soil dries out super fast!

Soil dries out super fast!

Re: Soil dries out super fast!

Re: Soil dries out super fast!

Re: Soil dries out super fast!


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