The Importance of Watering into the Fall |
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This summer, drought conditions have caused upheaval in the plant world. Trees and shrubs are coloring early, dropping leaves and having distorted growth. Extremely dry conditions can also result in root death and crown dieback, weakening the plant and making it much more vulnerable to disease and insect problems. Fall is generally a time for plants to replace the moisture reserves lost during hot and dry summer periods. If dry conditions continue in fall, recovery will be difficult for those plants impacted. Trees and shrubs that are not fully hydrated going into winter are prone to winter desiccation, a common type of winter injury that occurs when the amount of water lost by plants exceeds the amount picked up by the roots. Deep watering plants into autumn can mean the difference between healthy or stressed conditions in the coming spring.
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Some classes of plants are more prone to drought problems. Young or newly installed plants are especially susceptible, as they don’t have an expansive root system to draw water through. Evergreens especially need moist soil as the season moves into winter, in order to reduce needles drying out. This can lead to browning, needle loss, plant stress, and possible death. Perennial flowers also need plenty of moisture heading into the fall, water when the top 6 inches of soil is dry. Fall is a popular time to plant bulbs such as crocus, daffodils, and tulips; plant into well drained soil and water in bulbs well, continue to water at the same frequency as other perennials.
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Fall Care for Drought Stressed Plants |
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Watering: A deep soaking every 2 weeks until the ground freezes is adequate for most trees and shrubs in unirrigated landscapes. Apply water deeply, moistening the soil to a depth of about 9-12 inches; this ensures the important feeder roots are well watered.
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If using a sprinkler, let it run in a low pattern in one area until the soil is moistened as desired, then move it as needed to water the entire area underneath the plant’s canopy.
- If using a soaker hose, coil several times around the plant, and let it run until the soil is moistened to the desired depth.
- Avoid late season fertilizing: Late season fertilization increases leaf production and soft growth, which increases the need for water and decreases winter hardiness.
- No pruning until dormancy: Pruning is an invigorating process which stimulates new growth. Whenever pruning is done during the growing season, new growth will follow, reducing winter hardiness.
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Late summer/early fall pruning of evergreens, such as yew or boxwood, and spring or summer-flowering shrubs leads to the development of new growth. It takes time for this new growth to harden off and develop full cold hardiness, making the new growth very prone to damage from freezing temperatures in October/November or winter injury. If pruning needs to be done before winter, wait until plants are dormant.
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The only concession to this rule is removal of dead, diseased or damaged branches; this can be done at any time.
- Control weeds: Weeds can outcompete newly established plants for water, removing them when they are small for easy control.
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Mulching: Mulch helps conserve soil moisture around the base of the plant while protecting roots, controlling soil temperatures, and overall reducing stress on landscape plants. Apply a flat layer of mulch, avoid piling it up like a volcano against the plant. Keep it far enough away that it doesn't touch the tree or shrub trunk as this can cause rot.
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