What's with this rain? Though it feels good as compared to the hot, dry summer around here, I am concerned about it being a bit early.
My father, an old experienced Stockman, used to quip, "The perfect grass year would be to have rain on Halloween, green grass for Thanksgiving, and fat cows on Christmas."
And, this rain, though nice, may be at least three weeks early. If it continues to rain during the fall months, early is no problem. But historically, the rains in the fall can be spotty and fickle, if they continue at all.
You may be thinking, "What's the worry? Three weeks isn't very long." And in one sense you are very right. But consider this. Plant a new lawn, let it get up enough to break the soil and throw out those first leaves, then quit watering it for 3-4 weeks. Even if the weather is relatively moderate, the new grasses are going to take a beating from being dry.
This fine morning, October 7th, there is about 1.05 inches of rain in my gauge. I already had 0.25 inches from the weekend, so last night's rain brought at least 0.80, which is plenty enough water to start the green grass sprouting.
There can be both good and bad in the sprouting of the grass though. The good part is ... the days are still pretty warm. The grass will grow more quickly than if the days were cool. The more it grows up before the cold weather, the better chance it has. When it grows up, it also covers the ground, which tends to help hold the moisture in the soil, extending the time between necessary irrigation by rains.
The bad part is ... the days are still pretty warm. This dries out the moisture much more quickly, bringing on dry soil conditions sooner, which begins to adversely affect the tender new grasses.
One of the plants vital to our area, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, is Filaree. (pro: fill - a - ree'). This is one of the very first plants to sprout, and is very rich in nutrients. The cattle will actually lick the ground in order to eat this plant as it emerges.
If the Filaree sprouts, and then gets dry, it turns a deep burgundy-red color and lays flat on the ground. Fortunately, the plant can survive a long time in dry conditions this way, awaiting the next life-giving rain storm. When the hillsides of the foothills have a dull red color, the Filaree is waiting, flat to the soil.
When the rain does come, the change in the hillsides is startling. The dull-red hillsides will turn into lush green hills seemingly overnight. When moisture enters the nearly dry Filaree plant, the red color is replaced by brilliant green, and the ability of the plant to stand tall is renewed.
My dad used to comment of those times following a good soaking rain, "The grass is growing so fast, it's throwing dirt in the air." And it surely almost appears that way. The change in the grazing ground can be startlingly abrupt.
Today we have had only the first rain. It is enough to sprout the Filaree and other grasses. We will soon see breaks in the soil as the seeds begin unfolding their first leaves, reaching for the sunlight. Around the rocks on the hillsides, where the rain has run off the edges, the additional moisture will urge greater growth.
The very sun that urges growth, will also hasten drying. The next rain is surely coming, but the real question is when. Are we seeing the beginnings of a wonderfully wet winter? Or are we going to be teased with an early rain, and then nothing, bringing on a long dry spell?
Whatever it is ... it's started.
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