August 2020
A rapid onset drought with decreased precipitation, above normal temperatures and incoming radiation (sun) will result in abnormally high evapotranspiration.
Crop moisture levels are decreased and can significantly increase fire danger. Because of this drought, weeds that are tolerant to drought are popping up everywhere due to the stressed out condition of your lawn and landscape. These weeds, such as crabgrass, spurge and nutsedge, thrive in hot, dry weather because they don’t require water.
Treatment of weeds in a drought stressed lawn is not recommended because you can further damage the already stressed out turf. It is advisable to wait until the weather cools down a bit and the grass begins to green up before considering treatment of these weeds.
Your plants may also be suffering due to the drought. The hot dry conditions that we are experiencing here has also encouraged spider mites that can be seen damaging a number of both herbaceous (perennials) and woody ornamentals (hydrangeas, spruce) by sucking the juice right out a the plant. If you see that your plants are stressed, hold a piece of paper under a branch and shake it to see if anything falls. Spider mites are tiny but you will see them moving.
You do you not have to wait for cooler weather for treatment of spider mites. Please do not hesitate to give us a call if you think you have a problem and we can schedule a time to come out to evaluate your landscape.
