Fall is here! Parts of the Mid-South were impacted by a drought in August. Our neighbors to the South also had moderate to severe drought conditions. It is not uncommon to experience periods of drought in August in the Mid-South. Recently I fielded questions about the effects of drought on ornamental plants and trees.

Drought can impact annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and turfgrass. Plants that experience drought can become susceptible to disease, insect damage, and heat stress. Heat stress occurs when temperatures rise above a certain threshold long enough to cause damage to plants. Heat stress depends on the duration, intensity and time of year when high temperatures occur.

Signs of drought and heat stress include drying and browning of leaves, branch dieback, leaf drop, wilting and, ultimately, the death of the plant. Ornamental plants and shrubs will exhibit symptoms of drought and heat stress early on during a drought but mortality in trees may occur in subsequent years. Plant recovery will be delayed after extended periods of drought and heat stress.

Recovery of plants is dependent upon the extent of the damage, temperatures and water availability. In order to keep trees and shrubs healthy during dry, hot conditions it is imperative to provide slow, deep irrigation to the root zone. In order to maintain healthy plants during drought conditions, sufficient soil moisture is the most important factor. Do not prune plants during hot, dry conditions. This will cause additional stress to the plant. Additionally, it is not good practice to fertilize at this time as this can place further stress upon salt sensitive plants.

The amount of water needed to sustain plant life during drought situations can vary. Native plants may be able to survive without additional irrigation once they become established. Irrigation amounts will depend on soil type, plant species and size.
If you have any questions concerning plants and drought stress, please reach out to me at 901-752-1207. I am happy to assist you!

Photo Credit: University of Maryland Extension