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Water in
the Landscape..."Waste not, want not"
Water stress, in its
most basic form, occurs when the amount of water exiting the plant
through transpiration to the atmosphere exceeds the amount of water
that the plant is able to absorb from its roots. In a dry, windy
environment even plants with adequate soil moisture may begin to
wilt. Some plants are well adapted by various means to avoid water
stress. Plants with needles or spines have reduced surface from
which to lose water, while others have waxy leaf surfaces to retain
water within the leaf. Leaf rolling (corn) and even leaf loss (deciduous
trees in fall) can be ways for plants to conserve water during times
of stress.
Secondary problems may
include spider mite infestations; blossom-end rot of tomatoes, squash
and peppers; and increased wildlife and insect damage on fruits
and vegetables.
While these may be damaging
enough, the often insidious long-term impacts of drought can be
worse. These may include an increased susceptibility to wood-boring
insects, increased susceptibility to diseases, root death, diminished
winter hardiness, dieback of terminal branches, and even plant death.
Full
Story, http://whisper.agriculture.purdue.edu/ces/gardentips/county
/floydwater.html
Taking Cuttings for the Winter
Late summer is the perfect
time to take cuttings from annuals and herbs. Impatiens, coleus,
geraniums, wax begonias, and such unusual annuals as licorice plant
and polka dot plant are easily propagated by cuttings. Plants grown
from cuttings of rosemary, thyme, and oregano can provide a midwinter
harvest of fresh herbs.
Full
Story, http://www.extension.purdue.edu/gardentips/flowers/cuttings.html
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