Johnnie St. Vrain: Buildings along U.S. 36; and lawn and garden watering recommendations

Dear Johnnie: So a new small building has been installed along 36 headed to Estes at a rare pull out. What is the purpose? - Diana

Dear Diana: Actually, there are two new small buildings along U.S. 36 headed to Estes Park.

I had noticed them when driving back down from a hike up to Kruger Rock recently. So I knew how to describe them to CDOT spokesman Jared Fiel when I reached out to him.

'It is for the fiber project that is currently installing fiber optic line from Lyons to Estes,' Fiel said in an email. 'As part of the project, ITS in Golden is allowing Crown Castle to install two network hub buildings through the corridor.'

One building is about four miles west/northwest of Lyons. The other is two or three miles northwest of Pinewood Springs.

I underestimated the size of the buildings driving by. When I went back to step one of them off, I found that they're about 12 feet by 40 feet, made of what appear to be prefabricated concrete panels.

'Eventually after construction those buildings will be protected by guard rail,' Fiel said. 'There are many of these hub buildings around the state.

'The fiber line will be partially used by CDOT for cameras, but it is also being used by the private company (who is paying for it) to improve cell coverage in the area and, eventually, improve internet service throughout as well.'

Until the work is finished, watch for construction in the area.

Johnnie: Both wanting to save water and to save my lawn, plants and veggies, what's the most efficient way to water them all?

During a prolonged hot spell, should we water in the a.m. knowing that the heat of the day will evaporate who knows how much? Or in the p.m. knowing that more will penetrate the soil but the heat of the day has already dried them even further?

Also, what's the suggested timer setting for each/either?

Thanks. - Scorched

Scorched: Let's start with your a.m./p.m. question. Either works.

'The key is that you're not watering in the heat of the day,' CSU Horticulture Extension agent Deryn Davidson told me. That limits evaporation and gives plants water when they can most use it.

If you have a sprinkler system, overnight works well for lawns. Just make sure that your sprinkler heads are covering the area you want them to, by testing them during the day. I recommend reading Carol O'Meara's July 27 column on helping your lawn through summer heat.

When it comes to efficiency, 'one of the bigger issues is how you're applying (water),' Davidson said.

'For flower gardens and veggies, a drip is best and most efficient. It applies water to soil, the root zone,' she said. 'With vegetables, (sprinkling them) can be fairly detrimental. A lot of them don't want their leaves wet. Apply water directly to the root zone.'

Davidson said drip systems aren't hard to install. In fact, you can purchase them at local home improvement stores.

Scorched, if you choose to water your vegetables and perennials by hand, focus on the roots, not the leaves.

On thing about vegetable plants, Davidson said: They really want consistent water. That's required for getting consistent produce from those plants. Don't wait until you see them wilt before watering them. (Note: The leaves of some sufficiently watered plants, such as squash and pumpkins, will wilt during the hottest part of the day but recover by evening.)

'With lawns and perennial gardens you can let it dry out a little bit,' she said. 'Some plants are resilient and you can push them a little. Not with veggies. It affects the produce. It takes a lot of water to produce.'

For detailed info on vegetable gardening, go the the CSU Extension's vegetable manual, at
https://growgive.extension.colostate.edu/grow/crops-a-z/.

As for the suggested timer setting: The answer is that you'll need to research that, as it's different for every plant.

'Find whatever crop/plant it is,' Davidson said. 'Each plant has a different requirement.'

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