WATER-WISE TIPS FOR FALL

By Lynn Kuhn | Special to Lake Panorama Times

What a gorgeous autumn we have been experiencing. It is time to plant spring bulbs, wrap up harvesting veggies, and put the garden to bed for the winter very soon. This may involve cutting plants back, adding a layer of mulch, and watering the landscape, which is the most important thing at this time of year for newly planted trees and shrubs, especially conifers. This is a water-wise practice even in a year of normal precipitation. However, 2024 was anything but. As I write, 58 active burn bans are in place across Iowa while Guthrie County residents are experiencing moderate to severe drought according to drought.gov. 

 

10 tips to help you navigate the effects of drought:

Remember that even established drought-tolerant plants need supplemental watering during periods of extended drought.

Plants respond to drought stress in different ways: wilting, defoliating, going dormant, early fall color, etc. This does not necessarily mean the plant is dying, but simply adapting. 

Group plants according to similar watering needs to maximize the effectiveness of the water being applied. For example, sedum and feather reed grass co-exist nicely because they both prefer dry soil. However, sedum with astilbe, which prefers moist soil, would not be a good combination. 

Avoid fertilizing, transplanting and dividing plants when it is hot and dry. If you must transplant or divide during a drought, water the soil to make digging easier, dig the hole of the new location before you dig up the plant, and water, water, water.

Add mulch (up to 3”) to help hold moisture in the soil. Avoid bark nuggets and mulch made from pallets, which tend to blow and/or wash away. Instead, stick with commercially processed shredded bark mulch, which knits together and packs down over time to conserve moisture and discouraging weeds.

Evergreens continue to lose moisture through foliage through the winter. Once the ground freezes, the roots can no longer pull moisture from surrounding soil. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep watering until the ground freezes. 

Apply an anti-desiccant to broadleaf evergreens such as boxwood and rhododendrons before winter arrives. This will help prevent winter burn from sun and/or wind.

Water evergreen trees and shrubs planted in the past two to three years every week until the ground freezes. Saturate the soil with a slow, deep, thorough watering, not frequent shallow watering. 

Do not rely on lawn irrigation to water landscape plants. Plants have different water needs. It is best to water by hand or with emitters right next to the root ball.

A rootball and the soil that surrounds it will absorb water differently. Usually, the rootball is much drier due to a dense root mass and/or soil composition. This is yet another reason to water slowly and deeply until the surrounding area is saturated. 

Keep these water-wise tips in mind throughout the year but especially as we head into winter. Your efforts will be rewarded with happier healthier plants come spring. If you have any water-related questions, feel free to send them to me at lynn@conversationgardens.com. 

Written by Lynn Kuhn, author of “Conversation Gardens: Where Conversations Flow and Relationships Grow.” She is a landscape architect, speaker and owner of Conversation Gardens (formerly Outdoor Transformations). You can reach Lynn at lynn@conversationgardens.com or www.conversationgardens.com.