Will this hot , dry weather continue in August ? That ’s the question I ask myself every daylight . As I drop a line this , the National Weather Service is promise that the answer to my question will be “ no ” — and that ’s grounds for celebration .
I only recently chance on HOW to attempt to suffice the will - it - ever - rain question , and now I ’m hooked . The National Weather Service has a segmentation called theClimate Prediction Center , and it issues foresighted term forecasting for temperature and hurry , among other things . These prognostication come in the form of U.S. mapping with regions shade off to suggest the probability that temperature and hurriedness will diverge from the norm for a given fourth dimension period . The 6 - 10 day Outlook , for example , instance the chance , that the observed full hurriedness , over the upcoming day will be either below normal ( B ) , median ( N ) , or above normal ( A ) . Take a look at the Temperature and Precipitation Outlook for August 4–8,2021 at6 - 10 Day Outlook / Climate Prediction Center / NOAA.gov . These graphical maps are revise sporadically , so by the sentence you read this , it may have been revised , but at the moment , a flimsy hazard of above - normal rain is prognosticate for early August . Before we start cheering , keep in mind that these long term forecasts are labeled as “ experimental ” — a prophylactic term indeed .
Wateringmay very well be your main task this calendar month . If your water system supply becomes limited due to restriction or because your well is not adequate for the demands upon it , you ’ll need to prioritize the water want of recently - institute trees and shrubs ( those planted within the last 1 - 3 years ) . To avoid any waste , be sure to irrigate early on in the good morning or late in the evening . which reduces the amount lose to vapor and give plants clock time to replenish . “ Water early in the morning to allow plants to get wet before deal with the hot day or water belatedly in the evening to tolerate plants to replenish after the day . ”“Heat and dry weather condition pose problems for landscape plants , ” Va. Tech,2020
If we continue to suffer periods of above - average heat and drought , you may start to wonder , as I did in July , if there ’s anything that a gardener can do to avail their plant hold out — other than watering . Could some excess nutrients help ? I was surprised to get a line that the solution to that question is no . Why ? Fertilizer encourage new maturation , which will in turn , increase the plant ’s want for water . Here ’s the complete leaning of do ’s and don’ts to help your garden outlive drought :
Tips for Mitigating Drought and Heat Stress on Landscape plant :
For a deeper reason ofhow drouth impacts trees and bush , I highly commend “ How Dry Seasons Affect Woody Plants,”University of Kentucky / Coop . Ext./ID 89 .
Since the National Weather Service is predicting an growth in precipitation for August , I have high-pitched promise that we gardeners will be capable to proceed with our usual seasonal tasks this month . A good place to start your to - do listing is theMonthly Gardening Tips / Augustin the Gardening Resources part of the website .
Deadheadingwill advance new flowers on a number of flora , such as coneflower , garden phlox , salvia , asters , lift silene , and Pimpinella anisum hyssop . If you have reblooming daylilies , cut back the spent peak stalks and trim off any seedpod to activate the growth of new bloom .
If you arepinching off spent canna bloom , be careful . New buds unremarkably form in good order next to the spent bloom . Some canna lilies produce openhanded black seed pods , while others are sterile . Watch to see if semen seedpod develop . If they do n’t , deadheading the flowers is n’t necessary , except for esthetic .
Monitor for Diseases and Pests
Are you take care more hurt from pests and disease ? Drought and heating plant can render a industrial plant more susceptible to both . Monitor on a regular basis to stay on top of these subject . Removing pathologic leaf as presently as you distinguish it can prevent spreadhead . And a number of pest can be off just by handpicking or spraying them off with water . The water spray method run on both aphids and wanderer mites .
I just knock a Brobdingnagian ruck ofspider mitesoff of my royal coneflower , but the experts say this must be repeated ofttimes to keep the hint from go up right back up the works . Mid - season lavation of the leaves can help lose weight the voltage for spider mite population booms .
If mites are well - launch , you might be tempted to try a pesticide , but most insecticides are not in force on mites , and some , peculiarly carbaryl , result in increased mite damage after their natural enemy have been killed . If you ’re desperate , you might considereither an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil , which are project to cake the mite ’s exoskeleton and make suffocation . Unfortunately , these product can also kill beneficial mites and insects upon contact , though they do not have residual impacts . For more information on spider mites , seeIntegrated Pest Management for Spider Mites , Clemson Coop . Ext .
Hot conditions and high humidity encourage fungal diseases on many perennial , shrubs , and trees . Remove , travelling bag , and dispose of diseased foliage , peak , and other industrial plant litter that might harbor pathogen capable of re - infecting the plant .
If you ’re struggle to diagnose a job , there are a telephone number of source that can help . For a comprehensive scout to symptomatic websites and apps , be indisputable to start with theGarden Shedarticle“Oh , No ! Something ’s awry with my flora ! ” . If you ’re wonder what ’s incorrect with a perennial , check out the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station publication entitled “ Identification and Management of Diseases of Perennials in the Landscape , ” which provides a good canonical overview accompanied by exposure ofKEY diseasesthat the distinctive gardener might face . If it ’s a tree or shrub you ’re interested about , this Penn State clause can help you in minute down the possible disease and pests based on the type of hurt you ’re seeing : Penn . State Ext / Diagnosing Injury to Woody Ornamentals . Once you have a suspect or two , you ’ll find photographic direction for many diseases and pests at thePlant Problem Image Gallerymaintained by the Va Tech Plant Disease Clinic . In summation , Virginia Tech has a number of video recording about common plant diseases , and you ’ll receive these at thisYouTube / VCE Master Gardenerlink .
If you ’ve capture a mystery disease and need expert diagnostic help , you ’ll be happy to know that the Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic has lifted its Covid restriction on submit sample distribution of industrial plant for analysis . Read about how to submit both photographic and live works samples athttps://spes.vt.edu/affiliated/plant-disease-clinic/submitting-samples.html . Contact theHELP DESKfor details on get your sample into the office and on its way to Virginia Tech . Call 434 - 872 - 4583 or send an electronic mail to albemarlevcehelpdesk@gmail.com .
To see a list of pesticide recommended by Virginia Tech scientists for each major plant disease — include organic and biopesticides , — see Table 4.1 , Control of Ornamental Diseases , Pest Management Guide 2021 .
finagle your lawn during a drought can be tricky . Should you let your lawn go inactive for a while ? look up the expert counseling of Virginia Tech via this podcast and article : Lawn Management During Heat and Drought / Va. Coop . Ext .
Be certain to take a break now and then to relish your garden . And while you ’re at it , make some notes about which plants are doing well and where you ’d care to tote up some more drought - tolerant plants in the fall . Climate change is release us all into citizen scientists in our own M as we learn from our own observations which plant can withstand the hotter , dry conditions of our summers .
origin :
“ Heat and dry weather pose job for landscape painting plants,”VTX.vt.edu / articles(Aug . 2020 )
“ sustain Your Plants Healthy : Dealing with Dry territory and Drought,”University of Wisconsin Ext . , ( 2025-02-08 )
“ Mitigating drouth stress on landscape painting and garden plants during the current local teetotal spell,”Kenosha . Extension . Wisc.edu
“ Dealing with Drought,”NC State Ext .
“ Gardening Tips During a Drought,”S.Dakota Extension
“ Diagnosing Plant Problems,”Va . Tech / Educational Resources No . 426 - 714(2018 )
