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July 19, 2021 | Consolidated Report-UConn Communications

UConn promotion experts are here to help you, from planting trees to perfect and healthy summer snacks

The sun shines through the trees on the south campus. (Photo by Sean Flynn/Connecticut)

UConn extension experts are here to help you answer your hot summer questions. Their educators provide your family with resources on healthy summer snacks, including testing your drinking water, deciding where to plant trees, and watering your vegetable garden.

UConn Extension has more than 100 years of experience in strengthening communities in Connecticut and beyond. The extension plan addresses all the issues raised in the Strategic Plan of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR):

The plans provided by Extension involve individuals, communities, and businesses in each of Connecticut's 169 cities.

I heard where you are from, you have come to the right place. UConn EFNEP (Extended Food and Nutrition Education Program) is here to guide you in the right direction.

Frozen grapes, fruit yogurt parfait, English muffin pizza, hummus and vegetables, fruit salad, nut butter on apple or celery, 100% juice popsicles, banana or blueberry muffins, cheese sticks, cheese and vegan corn cake. These are just a few of the many healthy summer snacks for you and your family.

Visit efnep.uconn.edu for more recipes and information about our plan.

-Erica Benvenuti, RD | Community Nutrition Educator, UConn Extension

Well, I see, your life is very busy. Work, children, elderly parents, and then COVID. Since then, it is no surprise that you have not tested drinking water... well, when was the last time you tested the water quality? If you have "urban water", your water company needs to complete routine tests to ensure that you can drink the water safely. They also need to publish these results (usually on their website) so that you can view them. However, if you have a private well in Connecticut, the only test requirement is when the well is installed. Many mortgage lenders require testing when buying a home, but there are no other testing requirements.

I talked about this issue in a video clip. Since then, new discoveries related to drinking water safety in Connecticut have been realized. Maybe you saw a news clip about the discovery of arsenic and uranium in drinking water in our state this spring. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Connecticut Department of Public Health collaborated on private bedrock wells in Connecticut. Approximately 4% to 5% of private water wells contain arsenic and uranium levels higher than EPA drinking water standards. These elements are naturally found in some rock formations, but arsenic may be the residue of old pesticides used in orchards in the state.

So, I urge you again, please test your drinking water and add arsenic and uranium to the test list. Many of us are very careful when reading food labels to ensure that the food we eat is safe and healthy. You are responsible for ensuring that the water you drink is safe for your family.

Check this map to find a testing laboratory near you. The red icon is the laboratory for testing arsenic and uranium, as well as the regular drinkability parameters. The purple icon is a laboratory that only tests basic drinkability parameters. Here are some resources from the Connecticut Department of Public Health on the typical water quality tests performed, and why.

-Michael Dietz, PhD | Outreach Educator, Water Resources

In Connecticut, we are lucky that many plants, such as trees and woody shrubs, are easy to regenerate naturally. If humans do not interfere with the natural succession, our landscape will be almost completely covered by vegetation, whether as a tree canopy or understory vegetation.

However, we live in a densely populated country, and humans have been manipulating the surrounding environment. We sometimes or often prefer a plant in our homes, our communities, and other areas where we interact with people, wildlife, and landscapes.

Planting the right tree in the right place is not as complicated as you might think. However, there are many examples of the wrong tree species in the wrong place, such as tall, single-stem or even multi-stem trees planted under electric wires. These trees will eventually deform due to the necessary pruning to maintain electricity. Another example is evergreen trees, such as white pine and American hemlock, which may provide shade in winter on or near roads and sidewalks, leading to dangerous ice. The last one is to plant a tree that will grow outside the safe space during weather (wind, snow, ice, lightning) events, threatening people and property, such as the tall silver maple on the playground.

There are several factors to consider regarding what tree to plant and where to plant it:

Evaluate the situation: first is where you want to put the tree. You need to consider whether it is near or above your house? Away from buildings and other structures? Do you have a small plot of nearby neighbors (property boundary and fence), or a few acres of plot? What about underground power lines, natural gas pipelines, water and septic tank systems (wells, pipelines, fields)? Are there driveways, sidewalks, ground electrical and communication lines? Consider how much space you want the tree to have in relation to the objects above and below. These factors will affect whether the site is completely suitable for a tree, and what species, size, form, size, and life span are considered.

Design considerations: The trees in the landscape provide many benefits, including aesthetics, shade and coolness, increased property value, and relaxing and calming effects. Do you want a tree flower? Bark color? Fallen leaves? Disease-free or drought-tolerant? When considering tree species, keep in mind the width, height, upright, oval, round, and mature size of the canopy. Do you prefer year-round leaves (evergreen/conifer) or six months of the year (deciduous)? Single-stem or multi-stem trunks? Want to be the same or similar to other nearby trees? Or, for diversity and contrast, completely different. Do you want to plant more densely, or wider? Ghosting? Fifty percent, or more sunlight penetrating? Do you prefer the native species of Connecticut or the alien (non-invasive) species? These are all questions you need to consider.

Tree shape: The tree species comes from and is characterized by its form. Some species have selected varieties or cultivars specifically selected for forms of genetic control. The forms are layered (branched), round, upright (height is greater than width), pyramid-shaped, vase-shaped, wide (width is greater than height), and hanging branches, to name a few.

Plant and soil considerations: What are the locations and soil conditions where you are considering planting trees? You first need to consider the soil conditions in the planting area, such as drainage and fertility. The roots of the tree grow (typically 18 inches to 2 feet deep), where there are available soil nutrients, water and oxygen. The larger the external space (and therefore the volume of soil) in which they must grow, the more likely the tree is to thrive.

Most soils in New England contain all the nutrients needed by almost all native trees. Unless the soil has changed, such as roadside or urban soil, soil remediation is rarely needed. Some trees prefer more acidic soil, while others prefer "sweet" soil (lower acidity). All trees like bright sunlight, but some trees can tolerate shade better than others. Almost all tree species require an adequate supply of soil moisture, and some tree species can tolerate short-term high or standing water.

Future maintenance: Tree species vary greatly in terms of maintenance. All trees shed their leaves/needles, which usually (but not always) requires cleaning. As the tree matures and ages, wood material (bark and branches) as well as flowers and seeds (fruit, nuts, acorns, samara) will be scattered around the tree. Some trees attract insects that you might not like—for example, tulip poplars attract a kind of aphids, which produce honeydew that cannot enter cars, sidewalks, roofs, and outdoor furniture.

All these elements will affect your choice of tree species/variety and planting location. Take the time to plan ahead and make choices so you can plant the right tree in your space and enjoy it for years.

-Dr. Robert M. Ricard | Senior Extension Educator, Forestry

Deciding when to water (or irrigate) vegetables should not rely on visual plant cues, such as leaf curling or wilting. Before these symptoms appear, mild water stress may have affected the health of the plant and may reduce the harvest. Here, we will discuss when we should water the vegetables, how much water, and why.

How does water stress affect my crops?

Most vegetables contain 80% to 95% water. Because they contain a lot of water, their yield and quality will soon be affected by soil water stress. Water stress affects germination, leaf expansion, root development, and reduces nutrient absorption that affect yield and quality.

How much water do I need for my vegetable plot?

Generally speaking, vegetable plots need one inch of rain per week. By using a simple rain gauge or following a weather report, you can determine how much rainfall your area receives during a week. For an area of ​​100 square feet, an inch of rain is about 62 gallons. If your plot size is 20 feet x 30 feet (600 square feet), after a week of no rain, you will need 62 x 6 = 372 gallons of water. You can use a 5-gallon bucket to determine how long it takes to open the water to get 372 gallons of water. First, record the time to fill the 5-gallon bucket. If it takes 10 seconds to fill a 5-gallon bucket with your water source, it takes 744 seconds or 12.4 minutes to get 372 gallons.

Are the water requirements of different vegetables and soil types similar?

Not really. Knowing the rooting depth of the crop and soil type is important for estimating how much water is needed for any irrigation event. Shallow root crops such as radishes, onions, lettuce and celery and crops in sandy soils (with low water retention capacity) require more frequent light irrigation, while deep root crops such as asparagus and pumpkin require less but deeper irrigation. Tomatoes and heavy soil (more clay, greater water holding capacity).  

When should I water the vegetables?

One way to know when to water is to use a humidity sensor or tensiometer. Another method is to use a spade or trowel. Dig into the soil. If the soil is dry two inches below the surface, it's time to water. On sandy soils, you usually need to water twice a week, while in heavier (clay) soils or loams with high organic matter content (>5%), watering once a week after the crop has grown is sufficient NS. However, you need to water more frequently in newly planted plots. Depending on the weather, you should water the newly planted beds every one or two days.

If you have other questions about vegetable plants, please ask UConn Extension.

-Shuresh Ghimire, PhD | Assistant Extension Educator, Vegetable Crops

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