Is This Fall?

Today is October 19th, and the local weather forecasters are calling for an afternoon high of 88.  That’s a record-breaking temperature for this date in Georgia, and if you add that to the extreme heat we’ve endured all summer, as well as the ongoing drought, well, that’s a recipe for disaster when it comes to your landscape.

All around Atlanta there are dry grass, drooping plants, and just a general sense of exhaustion from trees, shrubs, and lawns — even the established ones.  So, here’s your official reminder:  you have got to continue to water!

Hydrangeas are not meant to look like the ones above, and this is not the time to assume that just because it’s October it’s okay to turn off your irrigation.  You may even have to get out the hose and hand water some areas of your yard that are looking poorer than others (gasp!).  Landscapes are living, evolving things, and sometimes we’ve got to give them a little extra love to get over the hump.

It’s been a record year for plant replacements for us over the last few months for clients (and in our own landscape).  And we’ve actually had folks say to us that they didn’t realize that trees needed water.  Huh?  Here’s a quick and easy reminder — if it’s a living thing it needs food and water to survive.  It’s that simple.  And don’t forget that if you’re having any part of your lawn or ornamental trees treated with chemical applications you are wasting your time and money if you’re not also keeping up with an ample watering routine.

Halloween is coming soon, and hopefully with that we’ll get normal, seasonal temps.  Maybe if we’re really lucky we’ll get some rain, too.  In the meantime keep those irrigation clocks set, or grab your hose and get to watering.  Your plants and turf will be forever grateful.  🙂