HOME LANDSCAPE SERVICES ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUEST SERVICE ABOUT US CONTACT US
 

Jan 2008 Newsletter

Recognizing Signs of Drought Stress

According to Jim Sellmer, assistant professor of ornamental horticulture at Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, "Even over the course of a year, symptoms caused by lack of water may not appear until late in the summer or into the next year. If you wait until you see signs that plants are failing, it may too late to do anything about it. Ideally, you should try to control or reduce drought stress as it's happening."

At AllScape, we are focusing right now on how our clients properties are dealing with the drought conditions.

Signs of extended drought stress

Trees and plants give off a chemical when stressed that attracts insects. It leaves them open to attack with little ability to fend off the invasion.

If plants have spent more than one season under drought, they can show a marked decline in the crown of the plant. In addition, twigs and small branches can die back. Large branches can die or break off under strong wind conditions.

Other symptoms may be delayed more than a year. Water loss may cause extensive root damage, yet the current year's foliage may appear unaffected. Conifers are particularly difficult to diagnose. By the time they show signs of stress, they're already in dangerously poor health.


Bacterial leaf scorch

How to avoid water stress

  • Keep track of rainfall amounts on your property. An inexpensive rain gauge or even a bucket can help you track moisture levels.
  • Use drip irrigation, which delivers water efficiently with little waste.
  • Carefully scout your plants for signs of drought stress.
  • Create areas in the landscape using drought-tolerant plants to reduce watering needs.
  • Do not over plant your landscape. Try to design your plantings in groups. Using too many plants looks crowded and strains water resources even further.

Watering guidelines

Mitch Phillips, President, was one of over 600 landscapers requesting that Charlotte City Council carefully evaluate water restrictions at Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on January 28, 2008.

City Council is considering allowing professionally installed landscaping to be watered for 30 days, followed by twice a week irrigation. We are proud of our commitment as a WaterSense Irrigation Partner with the EPA. Some suggestions for water conservation are

  • Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems.
  • Use properly treated wastewater for irrigation where available.
  • Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best). Do not water on windy days.
  • Water trees and shrubs, which have deep root systems, longer and less frequently than shallow-rooted plants which require smaller amounts of water more often. Check with the local extension service for advice on the amount and frequency of watering needed in your area.
    • >
  • Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems.
  • Install rain sensors on irrigation systems.
  • Have your soil tested for nutrient content and add organic matter if needed. Good soil absorbs and retains water better.
  • Minimize turf areas and use native grasses.
  • Use native plants in your landscape—they require less care and water than ornamental varieties.

Drought-tolerant turf



Bermuda has a fine texture that tolerates traffic. At this time, because it is vigorous and drought tolerant, we recommend it instead of fescue grasses. When creeping Bermuda invades flower beds and ground cover, it's called "devil grass" by frustrated gardeners. AllScape will help determine if your grass composition should be changed.

AllScape will be happy to conduct an on site inspection of your facility. We have two degreed horticulturists who are well versed in plant material selection.
Call for an appointment!
(704) 552-6335

Smart irrigation



Smart Controllers for irrigation work on a simple principle: provide the appropriate watering schedule, adjust for weather changes and irrigate based on the needs of the landscape.

There are a variety of weather-based "smart" controllers available for commercial applications. Whether it is real-time on-site weather data or historical weather data, the new "smart" controllers leave little room for error.

With smart controllers installed on your commercial property, you will be able to avoid over-watering and excessive run-off by scheduling the amount of irrigation based on the type of landscape and current weather conditions. You can protect your landscape investment and improve the health and look of your landscape.

The Irrigation Association has developed an independent third party testing protocol specific to "smart" controllers. Each product evaluation is conducted by creating a six-zone virtual landscape subjected to real-time climate through monitoring of a selected weather station to evaluate the ability of individual "smart" controllers to adequately and efficiently irrigate that landscape.

After initial programming and calibration, the controller is expected to perform without further intervention during the test period. Performance results indicate to what degree the controller maintained root zone moistures within an acceptable range.

How about a Xericape



The word "xeriscape" is derived from the Greek "xeros," meaning dry, and "scape," a kind of view or scene. Together, xeriscaping is landscaping with slow-growing, drought-tolerant plants to conserve water and establish a waste-efficient landscape.

Landscapes can be designed from the start to reduce the amount of resources needed to maintain them. By selecting the appropriate plants and efficient irrigation systems, a balance can be achieved to fit your aesthetic needs as well as reduce resource use. Benefits of xeriscaping include cost savings through lower water bills and a reduction in the labor needed to maintain your landscape.

Designing a resource-efficient landscape requires the incorporation of a few design elements.

• Zoning--grouping plants in the landscape according to their water requirements. For example, waterloving plants should be grouped separately from drought-tolerant plants. This allows for the proper amount of water to be distributed to the plants as they need it.

• Use of drought-tolerant plants-- these plants require less water and are adapted to drought conditions and soils with low water-holding capacities.

• Mulch, Mulch, Mulch - because mulch reduces evaporation, it is used extensively in xeriscaping to replace areas that require extensive watering. Mulch can also be used to create paths or walkways throughout your landscape.