The first day of summer in the United States is Sunday, June 20 and many people from coast tocoast are already questioning the possibility of a drought in their area as the season progresses. According to NASA’s website, “Almost half of the United States is currently experiencing somelevel of drought, and it is expected to…
39 People Now Living in Drought
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have “greener” lawns, in both senses of the word? The good news is there are several simple practices that will benefit your lawn as well as the environment, especially in areas where rainfall is in short supply. Here are a few ways to minimize water usage when caring…
Republished with permission from Ron Kujawski, Horticultural Consultant, UMass Amherst The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at https://ag.umass.edu. Recurring and prolonged periods of drought seem to have become commonplace in many regions of the country in recent years. The effects on trees and shrubs can often be seen in both natural and man-made…
You’re not imagining it: It’s been a dry spring in the Northeast. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, most areas in the northeast U.S. have received lower-than-normal rainfall, with New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania ranking this spring among their top 20 driest. In addition, forecasters have predicted an unusually hot summer in the…
Though we may not be able to fathom a time when the ground is fully thawed and we need to worry about drought, irrigation is fundamental to the health and success of your landscape plants. In ground irrigation systems already in place should be checked for proper functioning and repaired where and if necessary, while…
As of January 6, 2015 the extent of drought conditions across the U.S. is at its lowest point since December 20, 2011. However, drought conditions in parts of the west and southern plains remain severe. December 2014 brought heavy precipitation to southeastern and eastern portions of the country, significantly reducing levels of abnormal dryness (D0), moderate…
Ground and surface water lost during the extended drought in the southwest are having unexpected and unusual impacts. The 18 month-long drought in southern California has resulted in land upheaval of slightly more than half of an inch, recorded in the mountains. Apparently the estimated 63 billion gallons of water lost has had an effect on…
It’s summer and there are two things we know: – Trees need water – Water (in the form or precipiation) does not always come in predictable amounts and timeframes. There are many great web resources to help you track rainfall (as a proxy for soil moisture). NOAA provides some great tool and tracking precipitation at…
Roots VS. Shoots Caring properly for your lawn and landscape requires an understanding of the complex relationship between roots; the below ground support and nutrient acquiring portion and shoots; the above ground foliage portion. Both play a crucial role in plant development and success: roots obtain water and mineral nutrients from the soil while shoots conduct…
