𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭

Click for map:
https://www.ncdrought.org/files/assessment/current_assessment-20260611.pdf

𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕-𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭. With water restrictions likely to increase if rainfall deficits persist, gardeners may be asking how to insure their gardens survive. Here are a few tips that might help:

• 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: No new plants, no fertilizing, no pruning, except to remove dead or dying branches. Plants which are stressed from lack of rain must concentrate on retaining moisture, not putting forth growth.

• 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐜𝐡: Mulch all vegetable, flower, and landscape beds with a 4″ layer to conserve water, keep soil temperatures cool, and prevent weeds from competing with desired plants.

• 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬: Prevent weeds from competing with plants for moisture.

• 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐠𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭: It is less stressful for grass to go dormant than to be active and drought-stressed. Do not mow unnecessarily.

• 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 stressed by disease or insects to reduce competition for water with healthier plants.

• 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐟𝐟. Water the entire root zone, not the leaves. Water in the morning (6am - 10am) before heat rises to limit loss by evaporation.

• 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 promotes deeper roots and greater drought tolerance.

• 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭, which survived and which did not.

• 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 consider grouping plants with similar water needs to make it easier to care for them in the next drought.

•𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 to drought conditions. Select drought-tolerant plants to replace those that died.

Photo credit and additional information on current conditions: https://www.ncdrought.org/