Will My Plants Survive This Drought?

Even the trees are looking wilted.  It's a bit unnerving when the leaves on the dogwood begin to curl.  Zero precipitation in June and scorching heat in July have left the landscape so void of moisture that gardeners are left to wonder whether the damage will be permanent?  The answer is "maybe."

It's not so much the lack of moisture but the heat that threatens growth.  Couple that with a lower water table, and thirsty trees leave less and less moisture for surrounding plants.

Hydrangea and other tender perennials are the most vulnerable.  Newly planted annuals need constant supplemental water.   The windowboxes? Fugedaboudit. 

In ground irrigation needs to be doubled in time.  Once in the morning, and once in the evening so long as no community water restrictions are in effect.  Supplement with oscillating sprinklers until the weather turns wet. 

Pots should be moved to the shade until the temperatures drop at least ten degrees.  Set them in pans of water or purchase clear plastic base liners from home and garden centers for a couple dollars. 

Planning to travel?  Fill some empty two liter pop bottles, place tiny puncture marks in the top and bottom and set around the base of plants. 

I take the spray attachment off the end of the hose, open the spigot, place the hose end at the base of larger shrubs and small trees and and just let the water flow at the base for a few minutes while weeding, moving the hose end frequently until the bases are saturated.  Repeat on alternate days.

Just don't get distracted and forget.  Smart phone alarms can avoid disaster. 

Don't be discouraged.  So long as the root system is protected, above ground damage is generally reversible in most non-woody perennials.

Pinching back spent blooms helps preserve plant energy and the need for moisture. 

The vagrancies of nature--that's life in the garden.

Stay hydrated!

More Articles of Interest:

Impatiens Disease -- Trouble in the Landscape

Gnomes Get Kids Gardening

Houseplants 101 -- Water Warmth and Nitrogen Smoothies

Green Fences -- Boxwood Hedges to Hydrangea Hedgerows

There's nothing nearly as elegant as a clipped boxwood hedge.  Try one along the pathway, or in an "L" shape around a patio or deck.  Ours curves along the driveway, partially circling an antique iron fountain which doubles as a two tiered planter.  Hedges aren't just for foundation plantings any more.

There's some work, but a good clipping in  mid June followed by a clean up trim  in late September is all that's needed.  And there's nothing like the cake icing look of a hedgerow after a light snow.  If the holiday lights are in place underneath--its magic. 

When our privet was first planted, the fledgling hedglings didn't touch.  A few years later it's not possible to tell where one bush begins and the other ends. When it came time for the first haircut, I insisted  I wished to mimic a "hedge" nearby where each individual boxwood had been cut into a perfect globe, like a procession of green bowling balls. Mike, who'd installed the hedge, patiently explained to me how much excess work I was inviting with those green meatballs--once I committed to carving up the shrubs, there was no going back. I'm thankful for his advice.  Life's busy enough.

Hedges provide an outline of structure to the garden. 

Consider the location when chosing the shrub.  Boxwoods do best with morning sunlight but they'll become sparse in full shade and grow pale in full sun..  Boxwoods are prized for their shiny flat broad leaves which stay green through winter, the color deeping into a blue green tone in cold weather.  Clippings inserted in flower arrangements last for weeks.  Wintergreen boxwood are well suited for zones five to eight.  Emerald Jewel Boxwood is more diminutive, but stays fuller at the bottom. 

Junipers can be restrained into hedge formation and  thrive in locations with lots of direct sunlight. 

For a less traditional hedge, a line of hydrangea create a bilious effect, or rhododendrons give a smart pop of color each spring. 



The key to maintaining hedge fullness--thin out thick areas by hand, and taper the top of the shrub a few inches.  Be sure to "bevel" the top edges when trimming to allow sunlight to reach the bottom branches, avoiding the "crewcut" look. Sharpen handshears with the Shark to avoid bruising leaves which could cause brown edges for a few weeks.  Brush the plant lightly afterwards to evict chopped foliage.  Don't panic if one section looks a bit lower than it should, or the van doesn't quite stop in time. Minor indentations fill in quickly.  Shrubbery flubbery is rarely permanent. 

Hydrangea Hedge Zone 5

Still, always have back up.  For a time, dog Ralph took a liking to one specific area of the hedge.  We weren't aware until the damage became apparent.  Good thing there was a Plan B.  When planting a hedge, buy one or two extra shrubs and plant them in a nearby location.  If one of the original privets dies back, there's a replacement of suitable maturity as back up. 

Best of all, green fences require no painting, permits or padlocks.

More Articles of Interest:

Shrubbery Flubbery -- The Effect of Ice and Snow on Evergreens

No More Bad Haircuts -- How to Trim Shrubs

Rockery and Roll -- Xeriscape Gardening

Father's Day -- The Mighty Acorn

Father's Day's alway a little complicated in our house.  Bill usually gets up and heads off alone--to the memorial garden next to the little church on the corner.  I offer to go with him, but he prefers to go solo.  I can't imagine what it feels like to spend father's day without your child.  He and I have had our own losses too. 

Dad got up this morning and ushered as usual.  He made his own stop to pay his respects to the mother of his children.  I can't imagine that either. 

The girls are always torn on this day.  They adore their father and he deserves their undivided attention, but they love and respect their stepfather too, and are mindful of the poignancy of this day for him.  He rarely complains, but these days set aside for celebration can be complicated for some families.

What defines a father?  We joke that Bill married not one but three women, and he hasn't seen his hairbrush since.  He's provided comfort, security, and plenty of laughter over the years.  He's made everyone sit down to dinner nearly every night.  He's given them the world, literally.

Larry, their dad never missed a school conference, ball game or precollege meeting even when he was exhausted from driving his sales territory all day.  He always picked them up on time and brought them home well fed and full of funny stories.  He never "visited" with them, he parented--even when it was desperately hard to return them, he did so with a smile and a kiss.  And he never undermined or interrogated.  He just loved them and respected their mother and stepfather.  He also had the good sense to marry an exceptional woman and have more lovely children. 

In the last storm we lost a gigantic oak in our yard. A hundred thousand acorns grew on its branches. The oak and its offspring provided shelter to us our home and surroundings. Now that it's gone, it's irreplaceable, yet eventually those medium oaks that grew under its giant canopy will pick up speed.

Our family is sort of that oak in reverse.  Each acorn has more than one tree.  Fathering is complicated sometimes and not always easy or seamless.  My husband accepted my girls first out of love for me and then out of affection for them. We were a package deal.   My former husband gave up his day to day parenting but still provided unconditional love and laughter to his girls, his ultimate imprint no less had they wakened in his home each day.  My father raised his children, then learned to accept them unconditionally even when that acceptance might become difficult.  He never had difficulty accepting his grandchildren.  He thinks they are perfect.

What a joy to have a man fall in love with a child as a father, a father who never stops loving, and a grandfather who sees you as flawless.  It certainly is a joy from the sidelines.

Happy fathers day to all the oaks and acorns.

More Articles of Interest:

Graduation -- Magnolia Blooms

Pushing the Zone -- USDA Hardiness Zones

Curb Appeal -- Leaving Normile