By Anita Gall | Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
Aug. 17 – Hi, I’m Anita Gall, a Nebraska Extension Master Gardener volunteer. Did you know that growing indoor plants can benefit your health? Houseplants can help clean the air, reduce stress, boost your mood, and even help you focus. They add oxygen and can increase moisture in your home. But to be successful with houseplants, there are a few things to consider. Start with the right location. Think about how much light your plant needs-and how much light it will actually receive. If you’re repotting, choose a potting soil that drains well and isn’t too heavy. Otherwise, you could end up overwatering your plant. In fact, more houseplants suffer or die from overwatering than from underwatering. So, give your plants the right light, the right soil, and-most importantly-don’t love them to death with too much water.
Aug. 18 – How much to water-or not to water-seems to be a hot topic this year. We’ve experienced several years of drought conditions, and this past winter was above normal in temperature and below normal in moisture. That means we need to be especially aware of our environment and what we can do to reduce the amount of water we use. Unfortunately, the aquifer that Nebraska sits on is recharging at a much slower rate than we are using the water. So, if water is limited, prioritize your trees and shrubs. Lawns can safely turn brown and go dormant. In fact, this is a natural drought response for many grasses. Every drop counts, so water wisely and help protect Nebraska’s precious water resources. I’m Anita Gall, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener volunteer.
Aug. 19 – Hi, I’m Anita Gall, a Nebraska Extension Master Gardener volunteer. Have you noticed that some of the trees in our area don’t look as vigorous as they have in past years? We’re not only experiencing drought conditions, but our plants are also showing signs of stress from the high temperatures we’ve been experiencing this summer. Heat stress can occur when we have several consecutive days of temperatures above 90 degrees. You may notice symptoms such as wilting or drooping leaves, leaf scorch or brown edges, yellowing leaves, premature leaf drop, a thinning or sparse canopy, and even branch dieback. If your trees are showing these signs, pay close attention to their watering needs and give them the care they need to get through the heat. Remember, healthy trees are better able to withstand stress. A little attention now can make a big difference later.
Aug. 20 -If you’ve noticed heat and drought symptoms on your trees and shrubs, there are some things you can do to help your plants recover. Provide a deep, infrequent soaking instead of light, frequent watering. When you water, make sure you’re soaking the entire drip zone-the area that extends from the trunk out to the tips of the branches. Applying about a three-inch layer of mulch, four to six feet out from the trunk, can help keep roots cool and retain moisture. Mulch also protects the root zone from lawn mower damage and competition from turf. During periods of heat and drought stress, avoid heavy pruning or fertilizing. Your plants are already under stress, and fertilizer can increase that stress. Give your trees and shrubs time, water wisely, and let them recover. I’m Anita Gall, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener volunteer.
Aug. 21 – Now is the time to start preparing your landscape for the transition into fall. Continue to water deeply, especially during dry conditions, and water in the early morning hours to minimize evaporation. If you have roses, now is the time to stop fertilizing. You don’t want to encourage new growth that may not have enough time to harden off before our average first frost, which can occur as early as mid-September. You can also deadhead spent annuals and perennials. Removing those faded blooms can encourage continued late-season flowering. Be careful with pruning at this time, because pruning can also stimulate new growth. For now, limit pruning to removing dead, diseased, or damaged wood. And when you do prune, make sure your pruners are sharp and your cuts are clean and correct. Proper pruning helps plants heal and reduces opportunities for insects and disease. I’m Anita Gall, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener volunteer.
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Master Gardeners: Houseplants to trees watering wisely
By Anita Gall | Nebraska Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
Indoor plants can benefit your health. Houseplants can help clean the air, reduce stress, boost your mood, and even help you focus. They add oxygen and can increase moisture in your home. When adding houseplants to your home, start with the right location. Think about how much light your plant needs-and how much light it will actually receive. If you’re repotting, choose a potting soil that drains well and isn’t too heavy. Otherwise, you could end up overwatering your plant. In fact, more houseplants suffer or die from overwatering than from underwatering. So, give your plants the right light, the right soil, and don’t love them to death with too much water.
Water is a hot topic this year. We’ve experienced several years of drought conditions, and this past winter was above normal in temperature and below normal in moisture. That means we need to be especially aware of our environment and what we can do to reduce the amount of water we use. So, if water is limited, prioritize your trees and shrubs. Lawns can safely turn brown and go dormant. In fact, this is a natural drought response for many grasses.
Many of the trees in our area don’t look as vigorous as they have in past years. We’re not only experiencing drought conditions, but our plants are also showing signs of stress from the high temperatures we’ve been experiencing this summer. Heat stress can occur when we have several consecutive days of temperatures above 90 degrees. You may notice symptoms such as wilting or drooping leaves, leaf scorch or brown edges, yellowing leaves, premature leaf drop, a thinning, or sparse canopy, and even branch dieback. If your trees are showing these signs, pay close attention to their watering needs and give them the care they need to get through the heat. Remember, healthy trees are better able to withstand stress.
To help your trees and shrubs recover from heat and drought symptoms. Provide a deep, infrequent soaking instead of light, frequent watering. When you water, make sure you’re soaking the entire drip zone-the area that extends from the trunk out to the tips of the branches. Applying about a three-inch layer of mulch, four to six feet out from the trunk, can help keep roots cool and retain moisture. Mulch also protects the root zone from lawn mower damage and competition from turf. During periods of heat and drought stress, avoid heavy pruning or fertilizing. Your plants are already under stress, and fertilizer can increase that stress.
Now is also the time to start preparing your landscape for the transition into fall. Continue to water deeply, especially during dry conditions, and water in the early morning hours to minimize evaporation. If you have roses, now is the time to stop fertilizing. You don’t want to encourage new growth that may not have enough time to harden off before our average first frost, which can occur as early as mid-September. You can also deadhead spent annuals and perennials. Removing those faded blooms can encourage continued late-season flowering. Be careful with pruning at this time, because pruning can also stimulate new growth. For now, limit pruning to removing dead, diseased, or damaged wood. And when you do prune, make sure your pruners are sharp and your cuts are clean and correct. Proper pruning helps plants heal and reduces opportunities for insects and disease.
