Probably shouldn't be surprised but...
KT53
Posts: 3,864
I've been weeding one of the borders and was surprised at just how much dryer the ground is around even the small shrubs. They have little in the way of leaf on them yet but the ground is noticeably dryer.
Just moving a couple of feet away from them makes a big difference. The whole area gets the same amount of sunlight.
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The point is, there is no canopy at the moment. Leaves are just starting to form, only bare stems currently.
The makeup of the soil can vary considerably....even within a few feet and affects water absorption quite dramatically.
I do understand that, but the only really dry areas are those around the shrubs so it must be down to the amount of moisture they are drawing out of the soil. I was just surprised that it is so noticeable even before leaves have formed.