Gardening expert Ann Schwind of Los Angeles offers advice on working with soil that's too wet or dry. Loose, sandy soil is very difficult to water once it becomes dry: water runs off rather than soaks in. To improve the situation, work with the soil while you water. Set up a sprinkler, or allow the hose to run on the soil while you turn it with a cultivator or a trowel. The use of automatic timers may give you soil that's too wet. Don't forget that automatic water-delivery systems must be adjusted in accordance with weather conditions and the season. Plants use more water in spring and summer, much less in fall and winter. To determine whether your soil is too wet, use a soil probe to take a core sample from deep within the soil. Insert the probe, pull it out, and examine the core for moisture content. Squeeze the sample: if it stays together in a compacted ball, the soil is at the right moisture level. Turn the timer off at this point to allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Use a soil moisture meter to determine when it's time to water. Meters are inexpensive and especially useful if you have a container garden or a small patio garden. A probe inserted into the soil registers how moist or dry the soil is and displays the results. Provide a water source in your garden to attract butterflies, birds, lizards and beneficial insects, which will help keep the pest population to a minimum. The water feature needn't be complex: just place a shallow basin in a sunny part of your garden. A flat rock will provide a landing area for thirsty visitors. Place the water feature near herbs or flowering plants, which will attract insect visitors.
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