How to Maintain your Landscaping During a Drought
South Carolina is currently experiencing widespread drought conditions all over the State. Drought conditions are made when an area goes through a period of a few weeks, or even months without rainfall. This lack of rainfall can cause significant damage to the health of your landscaping. Signs that your landscaping may be suffering from drought exposure include:
- Wilting or dropping leavesÂ
- Burnt leavesÂ
- Dry or cracking soil
- Stunted growth
- Reduced bloomingÂ
Here are some ways that you can maintain the health of your landscaping, even throughout periods of drought:
- Proper watering: water your plants 2-3 times a week for a longer period of time than you normally would to encourage root growth. Try to schedule your watering sessions before 10am to reduce risk of the water being evaporated by the sun before it has a chance to travel to the root system.Â
- Apply mulch: applying an extra 2-4 inches of mulch to your garden beds will help hold more moisture in the soil for the plant to feed on throughout a period of droughtÂ
- Stop fertilizing: fertilizer encourages new growth that may be at risk of wilting during a period of droughtÂ
- Keep up with weed control: some weeds can begin to grow more vigorously during periods of drought. Make sure you are removing those weeds as they come up to prevent them from spreading. Â
Keep in mind that 1-2 days of rain does not mean that the drought is over. It can take weeks or months of consistent normal rainfall to recharge groundwater and restore soil moisture. That is why it is important that you are able to recognize the signs of drought and care for your landscaping accordingly.