Think I need better water retention

[barryla61]

I know we are having unsusally hot weather here in central VA, nearly 10 days with 100 degree temps. I have a raised bed and the plants in it are sucking up the water, having to water everyday (plants are wilting). Bed is mulched with newspaper topped off with grass clippings but is still drying up.
We may not have this kinda weather next year but I still would like to have better water retention. What could I add to it between end of harvest this year and next spring?

[Worth1]

I have two questions to ask.
What soil do you have in your beds now?
And do you think maybe tree roots have came in and are sucking up the water?

Worth

[RebelRidin]

I am kind of wondering the same things as Worth. I am seeing the same weather here in MD. I am using drip line in my 12" raised beds. They are filled with 3 parts compost to 1 part loam topsoil. I am planting modified square foot and not even using any mulch. I had been watering twice per week at a rate equal to about 3/4" of rain. Since the triple digits hit I have gone to three times per week. Tomato plants aren't growing much or setting many fruit right now but they are doing fine. Beans, squash and cukes have kept producing well.

[Worth1]

I have elephant ears growing in 40 gallon containers sunk in the ground with no holes in them for water drainage.

I have two I cant keep water in and they aren't doing well at all I thought I had a hole in them.
Yesterday I washed about 1 inch of soil from the up hill side and guess what.
These two containers had 3/4 inch tree roots that had grown over the top and into the containers.
These roots were the culprit all the time.
These roots will soon become more dead wood to rot and feed the elephant ears.

This is why I asked the root question.

Worth

[OneDahlia]

You could just get pregnant -- 8 months along here and it's hot, I've got excellent water retention.

[Sun City Linda]

Oh Dahlia- I feel for you in all the heat you are getting!

[OneDahlia]

Linda, thanks -- I've been hiding out indoors almost all the time, very thankful for a/c. Just couldn't resist that post.

[meadowyck]

OneDahlia, oh my you poor thing, I remember with my son, thank goodness he was early, in the heat of August and the base in MD wouldn't put the A/C on as they were due for a base inspection and wanted the utilities to stay low, oh the water retention, feet, ankles and legs started to never go down after a night in A/C.

I hope your heat wave is soon gone so the last bit is somewhat easier....

[jerryinfla]

As has been said, tree roots, might be the problem so double digging this fall/early spring might help. Also, adding organic matter should help with water retention.

[johnyoga2]

How about rotting logs? Google Hugelkultur. It's an interesting concept that seems to make sense but I don't know if anything would work in the conditions we have now. We are in our sixth week without rain temps 90/100's. Things here are pretty dry.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by OneDahlia

You could just get pregnant -- 8 months along here and it's hot, I've got excellent water retention.

You know when I first read the title to this thread I thought the same thing.

But being a man and not supposed to know of such things I thought better of it.

Worth

[lakelady]

My plants are in compost and leaf mold and they are drying out fast too. I think peat moss is supposed to hold a lot of water, which is why it is not recommended for seed starting due to damping off.

My grass is all CRUNCHY! and brown. Good news is no mowing required. Bad news is I have no greens for the compost heap!

[OneDahlia]

Jan, that sounds like torture! No wonder your son was early -- he must have thought it might be cooler outside, lol. Seriously so grateful for the luxury of a/c.

Worth, I'm so glad it wasn't just me! I'm kind of flattered that my sense of humor lined up with yours here.

Barry, I'm sorry for derailing your thread a bit! Thank goodness that heat wave has broken. But I'm betting there must be something drinking up your water too, because I'm here in VA too and I didn't even have to water my eggplant containers every day, much less the regular garden. Last year, when I mulched with straw, I almost never had to water the tomatoes at all, even though we had some severe heat then too. Granted, my garden doesn't get full sun all day, but that just seems too fast to dry out here.