recover from drought - ufdc image array...

Helping Landscapes p g pRecover Recover

from Droughtfrom Drought

Archival copy: for current recommendations see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local extension office.

Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Assess the Landscape:• Assess the Landscape:

• What to look forWhat to look for• Where to look

• What to Do:• What to do in the short term• What to watch for over the• What to watch for over the long term


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought

• Assess the landscapep• Plants and turf

Irrigation system• Irrigation system• Note the

l i dlocations and characteristics of

blproblem areas



• What to look for:• Dead patches of grass• Dead patches of grass• Wilted or off-color

f lifoliage• Poor or uneven growth• Dead branches or plants• Sudden death of anSudden death of an

entire tree or shrub


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from DroughtWhere to look for damage:• Where to look for damage:• marginal species

l t i l it d• plants improperly sited• areas where plants were

pa tic la l st essedparticularly stressed



• Pay close attention to “marginal” plants for the areaf



• Marginal plants for North Florida:• Plants too far south

• Some Cherries (Prunus species)

• Plants too far north• Bottlebrush

l• Queen palm• Bougainvillea• Tropicals• Tropicals



• Marginal plants for Central Florida:• Plants too far south

• Dogwood• Saucer magnolia• Redbud• Fringe tree

• Plants too far north• Tibouchina

T i l• Tropicals



• Marginal plants for South Florida:• Plants too far south

• Camellias• Azaleas• Temperate deciduous

fruits (apples, pears, and most peaches blueberriesmost peaches, blueberries, raspberries, andblackberries)



• Pay close attention to plants that were improperly sited in the landscapemp p y p

•Too dryAzaleas

•Too shadyTurfAzaleas

•Too wetPittosporum

Turf•Improper soil pH

Azaleas BlueberriesPittosporum•Too sunny

Dogwood

Azaleas, Blueberries, Bahiagrass, andCentipedegrassDogwood

AzaleasCentipedegrass on alkaline soil


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Pay close attention to plants located in Pay close attention to plants located in

“stressful” sites• Turf and plantings close• Turf and plantings close

to sidewalks, roads, etc.


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Pay close attention to plants located in Pay close attention to plants located in

“stressful” sitesPl ti h t• Plantings where roots were confined or restricted• Raised beds• Sidewalk cutouts• Dense plantings• Compacted soil• Compacted soil• Parking lot islands


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Pay close attention to plants that were • Pay close attention to plants that were

particularly stressedD ht iti l t• Drought-sensitive plants

• Plants with shallow roots



• Pay close attention to plants that were pparticularly stressed• Recently-planted trees• Recently-planted trees,

shrubs and sod • Plants that werePlants that were

overwatered prior to drought and p gwater restrictions


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Pay close attention to plants that • Pay close attention to plants that

were particularly stressedI i ti ith• Irrigation zones with poor uniformity



• What to look for:

Surprises!Surprises!• Some “drought tolerant” plants will suddenly die or

show injury after rains resume (often in July/Aug.)• These plants usually have root damage/disease that

was not evident during the drought• High temperatures and “full” growth flushes

i i i l l d d dincrease transpirational water loss, and damaged root systems can’t keep up



• Assess the LandscapeAssess the LandscapeWh t t D ?•What to Do?•What to do in the short termWhat to do in the short term•What to watch for over the l tlong term



• What to Do?Replace plants/turf?• Replace plants/turf?

• Cut back plants?p• Maintain landscape as usual?Ch th i i ti t ?• Change the irrigation system?

• Change the landscape design?g p g



• Consider changing the landscape designto incorporate more water-efficient features


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Consider changing the irrigation • Consider changing the irrigation

systemT t bl• To correct problems

• To incorporate more water-efficient features


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from DroughtPl l• Plant replacement?• Turf: Replace the entire lawn if more p

than 40% of the turfgrass is dead or severely damagedy g

• Landscape Beds: Consider replacing: • Dead plants• Dead plants• Significantly damaged plants• Living but “aesthetically challenged” plants• Living, but aesthetically-challenged , plants



• Plant replacement?• Replacement may not be necessary in:Replacement may not be necessary in:

• Beds that were “overplanted” at installation• Removal of dead plants provides space• Removal of dead plants provides space

needed for the canopies and roots of remaining plantsg p

• Damaged turf areas where turf is no longer appropriate due to shade or other factors pp pthat prevent proper growth


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from DroughtPl l• Plant replacement?• If replacing plants:p g p• Follow the “Right Plant/Right Place” rule• Consider plants with greater drought• Consider plants with greater drought

toleranceD ’t l di kill d l t ith• Don’t replace disease-killed plants with other susceptible plants



If replacing plants, install them properly!


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from DroughtPl f d h• Plant care after a drought• Remove dead

branches from trees and shrubs

• Prune as needed for safety plant healthsafety, plant health and aesthetics


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Plant care after a drought• Plant care after a drought

• Fertilization Considerations:• Most established trees and shrubs don’t need

fertilizer• Use iron instead of nitrogen fertilizer to green

up a lawn • If you fertilize, remember nitrogen fertilizers

will stimulate growth; avoid fertilizing until plants have fully recovered and root systemsplants have fully recovered and root systems have regenerated


Recovering from DroughtRecovering from Drought• Plant care after a drought• Plant care after a drought

• Fertilization Considerations:• Fertilizer can be applied to plants needing to

replace a significant portion of their canopy t l t th t d th “b t”or to new plants that need a growth “boost”

to catch up in size to older plantsMicronutrients may be applied to palms• Micronutrients may be applied to palms, tropical fruits and other plants showing these nutrient deficienciesnutrient deficiencies


Recovering from Drought:Long Term EffectsLong-Term Effects

• Signs of Residual Plant Stress• Signs of Residual Plant Stress• Water sprouts and uneven growth



• Signs of Residual • Signs of Residual Plant Stress• Water sprouts/uneven growth• Pests that move in on

stressed plants• Borers!

A l l f i• Azalea leafminer• Botryosphaeria and

Hypoxylon cankersHypoxylon cankers• Armillaria and some other

root rots



• Signs of Residual Plant Stress• Signs of Residual Plant Stress• Water sprouts and uneven growth• Pests that move in

on stressed plantsN t i t d fi i i• Nutrient deficiencies



• Signs of Residual • Signs of Residual Plant Stress• Water sprouts and

uneven growth• Pests that move in

on stressed plantsN t i t d fi i i• Nutrient deficiencies

• “Early” fall color• Heavy flowering and/or

fruiting



• Signs of Residual Plant Stress

• What do do if plants exhibit

• Water sprouts and uneven growthP t th t i

these symptoms• Play “detective” to

d i h• Pests that move in on stressed plants

• Nutrient deficiencies

determine the cause and decide on a course of action ut e t de c e c es

• “Early” fall color• Heavy flowering

(if the condition can be remedied)

and/or fruiting



• Review and Revise maintenance practices according to UF guidelines p g F gfor plant health and water efficiency



• Review and Revise maintenance practices according to UF guidelines

M l h P ti IPM

p g F gfor plant health and water efficiency

• Mulch• Irrigate and

Fertilize “as needed”

• Practice IPM

• Mow highFertilize as needed• Use slow-release

fertilizers

• Mow high

• Recycle yard wastefertilizers • Recycle yard waste



• Assess the Landscape:What to look for

• What to look for• Where to look

• What to Do: What to Do• What to do in the short term• What to watch for over the long term


Helping Landscapes p g pRecover Recover

from Droughtfrom Drought


Institute of Food and Agricultural SciencesNorth Florida Research and Education Center - Quincy and Monticello


ENH862“H l i L d R f D ht”

D l d b

“Helping Landscapes Recover from Drought”

Developed byGary W. Knox

University of Florida/IFASNorth Florida Research and Education Center

1. This document is ENH862, formerly STP-216, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date February 2002 R i d D b 2008 Vi it th EDIS W b Sit t htt // di if fl d2002. Reviewed December 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Gary W. Knox, Professor, Extension Environmental Horticulturalist, North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy; Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of , Q y; p ,Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611


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