Drought brings distress

Pale brown grass crunches under foot. With a slight gust of wind dead leaves blow across the square. Flowers have turned into dust from day after day of dry heat. These are the sights and sounds of the persistent drought.
Although most have lost the courage to plant flowers and trees, not all is lost. Learning the inside tricks of green thumbs can resurrect some of the beloved greenery that once filled local lawns.
This is the second summer Allen County has gone through a drought, adding additional stress on trees, shrubs, flowers and grass, Extension agent for agriculture Krista Harding said.
“This is what’s called accumulated stress,” she said.
Summer wasn’t the first time signs of accumulated stress began, Harding said. “In the late spring and early summer the plants really started showing early signs,” she said.
When it comes to planting now, Harding wouldn’t say it was pointless, but she wouldn’t recommend taking on any plant that would struggle.
If people really want to plant trees, Harding advises waiting until October or November. But the best time is “in the spring before they break dormancy,” Harding said.
All plants naturally go through a dormant period during the winter. When buds and leaves start showing then they have broken dormancy.
The biggest tip Harding says she could give is to let annual plants die. Annuals are the plants that have to be replanted each year.
“Devote time to keeping trees alive,” Harding said. “Trees and shrubs are (the most costly) and our biggest investment.”
Trees are more expensive and take years to become large. After trees, pay attention to shrubs, lawns, annual flowers and vegetables.
A soaker hose is the best way to water trees. Place the hose so the water will go directly onto the soil. This allows the water to sink deeper into soil. The water should soak eight to 12 inches deep.
Check to see how long it takes for the water to reach that depth and then water accordingly.
This system can be used for plants, flowers, vegetables and shrubs as well.
With the water warning having been issued recently watering has been restricted. “If you are limited on water then whatever is being used should be devoted to trees and shrubs.”
Getting closer to fall there are some things gardeners can do to ensure a beautiful gardenscape during the winter.
“Pansies do well in the fall. I don’t recommend planting mums, other than buying them already blooming for decorative purposes,” Harding said.
Other attractive fall gardenscapes are cold crops – lettuce, radishes, turnips and spinach. “As the days get shorter and cooler they do well,” Harding said.
With the cool weather that was seen last week, Harding is hoping fall will come a little early and give plants a break.
Usually the end of August breaks the heat of the summer a little bit and that was seen a little early this year.
“I am afraid we don’t know what is normal anymore,” Harding said. “It was so early in the spring that maybe, hopefully, fall will come in a little early.”

LAWNS IN this area are mostly of fescue grass. This grass is a cool season grass and is not doing well in the drought’s heat.
Grass that does better in the warm weather is Bermuda, it is what golf courses use on their greens.
The way to find out if the lawn is dead is to dig up some of the grass and plants to see if there is any green tissue left.
“If it withers away to nothing then it is dead,” Harding said.
If gardeners do not know if they have live grass or plants they can call the extension office. The K-State extension office can direct them to an agent to help and Harding says she has even done house calls — all free of charge. 

ANOTHER option for gardeners is keeping plants indoors.
“The biggest limiting factor for indoor plants is lighting,” Harding said.
Harding suggests using grow lighting because regular fluorescent lights won’t have enough power to give plants the amount of light they need.
Keeping plants by a window will give plants enough light, as long as it is a window that gets a lot of sun exposure.
“The main thing is you need to buy a plant that fits the lighting in the house,” Harding said.

TREES and shrubs need to be watered once a week. Flowers and plants need to be watered at least two to three times a week, Harding said.
Harding recommends not watering between the hours of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., which also closely follows most water restrictions.
For more information on agriculture or gardening contact Harding at (620) 244-3826.