Despite Rain, Garden Plants Still Fight Drought Conditions

Protecting Your Garden and Landscape From Drought

It may be raining now, but it was a very dry winter.  Weather forecasters are suggesting that we won’t make up for the lack of winter moisture this spring and summer.  We had well below normal winter snow levels, so our landscapes are starting this season parched.

As you are planting your gardens this spring, installing landscape plants, and restoring your lawn remember to conserve the water by using organic mulches and composted organic matter.  Composted organic matter has a large surface area and so it holds water.  It helps hold water in sandy soils and in clay soils by creating soil structure that allows for the penetration and holding of water where otherwise it would pool or run off.  The additional benefits provided by the release of nutrients from composted products also means you can easily reduce your fertilizer bill and get healthy plants in the process.

Organic mulches conserve soil moisture in two ways.  The first is by covering the soil and not allowing the water to evaporate into the atmosphere.  The other is by being a sponge and holding the moisture.  As mulches decompose, they provide the benefits of the compost after two to three years.  Mulches can become water repellent.  The fungi decomposing the mulch often times will create a matt between the mulch particles and prevent water from penetrating through the mulch.  Raking the mulch two to three times during the growing season will help break up the matt and allow for better water penetration.