Have the East and West changed places? My farm and probably your home is in a severe drought while the normally dry areas in the west are flooding with torrential rains.
My pastures are crunchy, my lawn is also, except where I have been watering new sod that was installed last fall. It is surviving. The hydrangeas and perennials are not faring much better. Especially hard hit are those that were planted in the last year.
I just walk around my landscape and garden surveying the plants to see who screams the loudest from thirst. Then I take my hose, put my finger over the end and water right down at the ground level, soaking an area that I can imagine the root system growing within. You can spray the leaves with water if it is very early in the morning before the sun is beaming on the leaves. Do not water the leaves when the sun is high and the temperatures are high. This can cause really ugly damage to the flowers, leaves and growing tips of the stems. Soak the ground, moving the hose slowly around the plant for 30 seconds to one minute, depending on the size of the plant and how long it has been in the ground. Move to another plant or two and then come back and repeat the process. It is best for you and the plant to do this in the early morning hours.
I find myself watering some shrubs, trees, and flowers in the evening (not the best time, but better than in the mid-day). When I do this, I am especially cautious about getting the leaves wet due to disease growth – diseases love wet, dark, warm conditions.
In the vegetable garden, it is extremely important to water just the ground except in the very early morning hours. The leaves and fruit are in danger when wet in hot sun or darkness. Mulch is very important but the soil underneath the mulch needs to be kept damp. A drip system is wonderful and easy to install. I even put a timer on my hose so that I will not forget to turn it off. When your garden is extensive, you can spend hours just hand watering.
On a happier, more productive note: My tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are flourishing. So far, no squash bugs or pickle worms or vine borers. Knocking on wood, because I know they will find me eventually! I did find a tomato horn worm on a volunteer plant in my flower border – peacock food! I also found a tobacco horn worm on a Variegated leaf Angel Trumpet – more peacock food.
Look carefully on your plants for these and other insects. If the insects are large, put on rubber gloves and pick them off. If they are aphids, thrips, flea beetles or other tiny pests, use an organic insecticide in the late afternoon after the bees have gone or use one that will not affect pollinators. Check the label and follow instructions very carefully.
Remove diseased plant parts by putting them in a bag and deposit them in the trash.
Last but not least, a reminder not to kill non-poisonous snakes. I have had two in my chicken house – black or gray rat snakes. I moved them to another part of the farm to kill rats and hopefully a squirrel or two. These are problems; the snake only wants an egg or two or maybe a baby chick. The egg he can have; the baby chick is the reason I re-home him.
Remember to plan lots of cook-outs and picnics. That is certain to bring on rain in torrents!
For more beautiful fall showoffs in your garden, visit and like Kathy’s Plants on Facebook. Make sure you get the site in Locust Grove. Here you will see photos of all these plants in Kathy’s garden and even some she doesn’t own.
