Does the Weather Repeat Itself?

This is the way this commentary started off the end of April 2016

"The weather this spring has been full of surprises from being in the 80's in March then freezing weather and snow in April, and lately, a record setting period in April for the longest stretch on record of no rain in this month." We all know the ups and downs of this spring and we have had a wet spring and the warm weather pattern has been about one month delayed. We even had a recent tornado thrown into the mix. Now we seem to ready for the planting season.

Here are a few items to keep in mind as you get your new plantings established:
• It is important to remember that the root system of anything newly planted is confined to a small area because all the roots are concentrated in the small root ball and because of this situation the root system is subject to drying out rather quickly.
• The concentration of roots in this small area will "wick" or absorb the moisture from this small area like a dry sponge or a blotter. When the humidity is low moisture is drawn out of the plant rapidly.
• Then add a nice breeze and newly planted evergreen trees, shrubs and even annuals and perennials dehydrate very rapidly.
• This kind of weather puts a high demand for water on the roots and the roots are in a very limited area, they are not out into the soil around them yet for a number of days after they have been transplanted. The roots soon run out of water and then the stress on the plant system starts to kick-in and evergreens will drop needles and younger growth will start to droop. If this situation persists for very long the plants may not recover.



The moral of the story is to be observant to the conditions that are affecting your new plants so you can provide them with what they need for the first few weeks and for trees and shrubs, for the first couple of years and they will reward you immeasurably for a long time. After all, when plants have to be replaced you lose 3 times:
• Once when you lose the growing time to get the plant started and
• Secondly when you have to expend the effort to make the replacement when you could be spending your time just chilling out rather than working up a sweat again.
• Thirdly, you have to provide the ICU type of care again to get the plant established in your landscape.

So relax and get ready to plant keeping your eye on the weather and you will make this a great gardening year. Send us your questions or comments to info@meadowview.com

Your gardening team at
Meadow View Growers

www.meadowview.com.

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