It has been extremely dry for quite some time in many areas of Alabama. This leaves many wondering if plants in most landscapes can survive this extended dry spell without supplemental watering. Extension professionals offer the following tips and advice when it comes to dealing with plants during drought.
It has been, and unfortunately continues to be, rather dry, so it is not surprising that plants are showing symptoms. The problem has also worsened by the fact that Alabama had an unusually cool, wet spring. Plants became accustomed to just the right amount of rain at just the right time. Now, with this hot, dry weather, they are having trouble acclimating themselves.
Trees and shrubs that have been planted a year or less are the most vulnerable. However, plants that are well established and healthy can withstand much more drought stress than we have experienced to date. Of course there are exceptions to all generalities. For instance, well established Azaleas and Hydrangeas can show drought symptoms. These plants have relatively small root systems adapted to semi-shady light conditions and moist soil environments. Many times these plants are located in less than optimal conditions and they suffer as a result. Plant needs must be looked at in a case by case basis. Therefore, it pays to learn a little about a plant’s specific needs prior to planting.
In the western part of the country, many have adopted a gardening practice called xeriscaping. However, this word can be misleading because it implies you must grow cactus or succulent plants only. Actually, the practice is much more balanced and involves grouping plants by water needs and limiting heavy water use areas. It also involves implementing some common sense water use practices. Below are a few common sense water practices that people should put into practice.
- Only water plants – not streets or sidewalks. If you see water running down the street, your irrigation system needs to be adjusted. It could mean the water is being applied too rapidly for the soil to absorb or the sprinklers are not properly located and are simply aimed wrong.
- Water plants according to their needs. This means you need to know something about the specific plants in your landscape. Plants will be healthier and you’ll have a lower water bill. Water no more than twice a week in any garden area, including established lawns, and only in the absence of rain. Set watering priorities by identifying which plants will suffer first, and which are hardest to replace. Established herbaceous plants, like flowers, need water once per week, but established large trees can go much longer.
- Warm season turf is tougher than you think. Well established turf can be weaned off frequent irrigation by slightly raising the mowing height, reducing fertilization, and reducing irrigation frequency while increasing irrigation depth. Zoysia and Bermuda grasses can be allowed to go dormant if you wean them off the heavy fertilization and irrigation regime that many people have adopted. Centipede and St. Augustine are less drought tolerant and may need more irrigation to survive. Regardless of the type of grass you have, if we continue in a prolonged dry period, even dormant grass may need some supplemental water, but it does not need to stay green to survive.
- Water during the coolest part of the day. Water between 4 and 10 a.m. to decrease disease problems and water lost to evaporation. Some municipalities may regulate watering times. Set your timer to water during permissible time periods.
- Use soaker hoses or trickle irrigation systems for garden plants. Drip irrigation and soakers put water where it is needed – the roots. Spray irrigation sprinklers lose lots of water output to evaporation and wind. Drip systems and soakers have the added benefit of applying the water slow enough that it soaks in rather than running off the targeted area. This method is actually more efficient than hand watering.
- Don’t over water. However, make sure the water soaks into the top 8 to 12 inches of the soil, where most shrub and tree roots are concentrated. For turf, flowers, and other small plants, the water needs to soak only about 4 to 6 inches deep. Avoid frequent and brief, shallow watering which encourages shallow roots. This increases the chance of drought stress later should water become less available.
- Water based on the weather, not the clock. Use rain sensors to prevent your clock-based controller from watering during a rain. Check the soil periodically to determine moisture depth. Consider collecting rain water using rain barrels or a cistern.
- Mulch! A 2 to 3 inch mulch layer helps plants through weather extremes by moderating moisture loss and soil temperatures. Mulch as large an area as possible around trees and shrubs. Mulch is especially important to shallow rooted ornamentals like dogwoods and azaleas. But, don’t add too much. Excessive mulch may have the reverse effect because the roots will grow up into thick mulch and die when it finally dries out during drought times.
- Minimize gardening activities. Avoid pruning (other than removing dead wood) and fertilizing in droughty weather. Pruning and fertilizing both stimulate growth, which can additionally stress plants. Also, avoid planting and transplanting in dry weather. New plants thrive best with natural rainfall and mild conditions. Transplants require extra water for establishing new roots. Fall is still the best time to plant. Hold off until more suitable weather for any landscape improvements that involve setting out new plants.
For more tips and information on drought tolerant plants, see the Extension publication Drought-Tolerant Landscapes for Alabama, ANR-1336. You can also call the Master Gardener Helpline toll free at 1-877-252-GROW.
