The Moonshine yarrow is one of the easiest plants to grow in Inland Empire gardens in areas of full sun and when sustained with low amounts of summer water. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months marked by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water and you should make irrigation adjustments based of field observations of growth and character.
|
Jan* |
Feb* |
Mar* |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov* |
Dec* |
Runs per Month |
0x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
1x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
0x to 2x |
Inches per Run |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
1″ |
|
Inches per Month |
0″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
1″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
0″ to 2″ |
Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"
|
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
1″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
0″-2″ |
|
Jan* |
Feb* |
Mar* |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov* |
Dec* |
For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, follow this link.
For information how to calculate your irrigation system’s schedule and precipitation rate, please follow this link.
Moonshine yarrow can be a low maintenance perennial or higher maintenance, depending on how one chooses to maintain it. Usually, flowers are allowed to fade and dry on the plant, creating an attractive contrast between new, active, and dried flowers. Some people prefer to dead head (cut off) fading blooms. This is best done by cutting off most of the stem attached to the flower (either entirely or down to where there are small leaves). This will extend the bloom cycle, but because Moonshine yarrow is a prolific bloomer, it also creates much more work in the garden. The plant does not care either way. Cutting back the whole plant hard (down to just above the lowest leaf buds, or no taller than a couple inches from the soil level) as soon as flowering is complete and stems are looking ragged will stimulate new growth, the next round of flowering, and maintain a tidier appearance (S). Every few years, especially if plants have begun to loose vigor, divide them. In very early spring, cut them into chunks with a sharp spade and dig the chunks (divisions) out. Only replant divisions that have vigorous looking root systems, usually from the outer areas of the clump. Depending on the age of the plant, or time since last division, the inside part might be woody, with few healthy roots. These parts should be discarded, or removed from the healthier parts and discarded, as you will still have more plants than you started with. Extra plants that you do not need in the garden can be put in a pot with potting soil, grown out until their roots form a new healthy root ball, and planted in new gardens. Divisions directly and newly planted in the garden need to be treated like newly planted plants, with regular water and extra attention (S).
References