Ten tips to deal with drought in the garden:
– obey all water restrictions;
– water in early morning or late evening to prevent evaporation;
– lawns are not dead, (unless there is insect damage), just dormant.
They will recover once the rain comes. Avoid mowing, so as not to stress grass to produce new growth;
– avoid unnecessary pruning of trees and shrubs, which may stimulate plants to produce new growth causing stress;
– newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials should be watered regularly. Form a well around the base of plants to keep water in. Give a thorough deep soaking once or twice weekly;
– tomato plants need regular watering or they’ll be prone to cracking and blossom end rot;
– remove weeds. They’re competing for the precious moisture;
– if perennials become brown, leggy or floppy, trim back to four to six inches. When the rain comes they will re-grow;
– hanging baskets using soilless mix dry quickly and are difficult to water. Placing the basket in a large pail of water till thoroughly soaked will reduce water loss due to run-off; and
– do not fertilize. Without adequate water, it is wasted and the salts may harm the plants.
After the drought
Prolonged periods of drought may cause twig and branch dieback in trees and shrubs.
Some may even experience root damage resulting in death. When the drought ends:
– do not overwater. Saturated roots may suffocate from lack of oxygen causing more stress for the plant;
– cut back dead or severely browned plants as they may provide hiding places for insects and entries for diseases;
– a fertilizer high in Phosphorus (P in NPK) instead of nitrogen will help repair the root system; and
– when adequately watered, mulch the root area to help stressed roots recover and stay cool.
submitted by Julia Kron
Wellington County Master Gardeners
