It’s been a tough year for the garden. Help it weather Mother Nature’s mood swings
The year 2022 was not easy for gardeners.
We certainly lived by the old saying, “if you don’t like the weather, give it a day and it will change.” The irregular weather patterns were not only hard on us, they also had an impact on our plants.
The 2022 year started on the dry side, preceded by the dry fall and winter of 2021. We had very little rain or snowfall. Plants faced spring already parched. Although not as stressful as the combination of hot and dry, winter drought is tough on plants. Drought-stressed plants are forced to use their stored reserves to survive. When these reserves become depleted, this leads to poor growth, a decrease in overall vigor and potential dieback.
When the dry period finally broke, we went from a water famine to a water feast. May and early June received above average rainfall and below average temperatures. Our stressed plants were again thrown the proverbial curveball.
Root systems that had diminished and deteriorated due to a lack of soil moisture now faced the added challenge of excess moisture, which depleted oxygen from the soil. As a result, plants drowned, lost feeder roots and incurred additional stress.
The next wild weather swing came in mid-June. That is when I learned a new term: flash drought. We are all aware of the term flash flood, which is caused by heavy rain. A flash drought is defined as a rapid onset of abnormally dry conditions combined with above average temperatures.
Overnight, plants that had been accustomed to cool and ample moisture faced a broiling sun and underwent a new stress event. They wilted, leaves scorched, and as the drought continued, some even died.
Over a span of a few months, we went from above average early rainfall to well below average rainfall by October as the drought continued. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of the Kansas City area was in severe to extreme drought conditions.
A few rain events in early November did not end the drought. Even after the several inches of rain we received, most of the area is still listed in severe drought. It will take more consistent rainfall over a longer period to pull us out of a drought.
How will the final weeks of 2022 play out? Will we swing back into a rainy period? Will the drought continue? Will we experience heavy snowfall? Will it be cold or above average? Only time will tell.
What we do know is our plants are stressed and their ability to recover is compromised. Food reserves have been depleted and root systems are weakened. So what are we to do, as we cannot control the weather?
My advice is to ensure our plants, especially evergreens and younger plants, receive good soil moisture. Plants use water in the winter even when dormant. Research has shown ample soil moisture improves the plants’ ability to withstand potentially harsh winter conditions.
Climatologists indicate our weather patterns will become more erratic. It looks like the roller coaster ride of 2022 will continue. We need to hold on, plant more adaptable and native varieties, and better understand how to manage their water needs.
Dennis Patton is a horticulture agent with Kansas State University Research and Extension. Have a question for him or other university extension experts? Email them to garden.help@jocogov.org.
This story was originally published November 25, 2022 at 6:00 AM.