summer stress

August is a tough month for many ornamentals, and it’s getting worse. Record breaking heat and drought conditions are putting the health of landscape plantings at risk more than ever before. Once stressed, plants become more susceptible to a host of other pests and diseases, which can be costly or troublesome to abate. Here are perspectives on recognizing and addressing summer plant stress from experts in three different states: Dr. Sharon Douglas from The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; Mike Hrivnak, head agronomist with Canopy Lawn Care in Cary, NC; and Peyton Ellas, owner of Quercus Landscape Design in Springville, CA. Why Can It Be Hard To Tell If A Plant Stressed? Douglas: Symptoms of drought manifest in different ways depending on the plant species and the severity of the water deficit. One important aspect of drought is that the symptoms are often not evident in the top of the tree or shrub until some time after the event has occurred—even as much as one to two years later! Hrivnak: Often you may not realize some plant varieties are experiencing heat or drought stress until it’s too late. Why? Because when many bushes or shrubs are desiccated, they still look green. The gardenia is a good example. It appears to hold its color well, even if it has received too much sun or too little water. However, as soon as it’s watered, it begins to turn brown and wilt. Ellas: Most signs are not apparent immediately; rather, it may take a ...