By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
After a cool start to summer, July kicked off with hot, humid days and late afternoon thunderstorms. The weather has made things some things take off and grow like weeds – mainly because they are. Other things have not grown so much. If climate scientists are correct, this will be an recurring weather pattern.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Connecticut is expected to see hotter-than-normal temperatures this summer. The average summer temperature in Connecticut is 70.3 degrees Fahrenheit, and NOAA is predicting there is a more than 50 percent chance that the average temperature across June, July and August will exceed that this year.
And what about rainfall? As of July 13, we’ve had measurable rain for 15 out of 30 days. That sounds good in terms of reducing drought, but we are still in a drought situation. Over the past three gardening months (April, May and June) we are at only 77 percent of the usual precipitation. And since that precipitation has been mainly in downpours, there have been numerous flooding events.
These changes may seem trivial, but they aren’t. Climate change is happening right in your garden.
As the temperatures rise, and rainfall changes from drizzles to downpours, there are steps we can take to have lush gardens. First things first: think though what you choose to plant and where. Make sure your garden is close to your water source so that you can “spot water” rather than running sprinkler systems. Spot watering reduces the amount of water to unwanted plants (weeds), stunting their growth while encouraging the growth of desired plants.
If you absolutely can’t live without a sprinkler system, don’t water paved areas and don’t run it on a schedule. Instead, have water sensors installed so that irrigation only runs when needed. Running irrigation daily encourages shallow root growth, which only contributes to the need for more watering. Let your lawn go dormant in drought rather than wasting water.
Consider methods for rain capture. Rain barrels are an easy solution for water storage. You can also plan for rain gardens either in a shallow depression or down a slope. You can then plant your thirsty plants there.
Focus your planting on your own microclimate. If you have shady property, plant accordingly. When selecting plants, remember that full sun is considered at least six hours of direct sun. If you don’t have a spot that fits that description, don’t plant full sun plants. There are beautiful flowers (but not too many veggies) that are part sun/part shade. In general, remember the gardener’s mantra of “right plant in the right place.”
Interested in learning more about our natural world? Consider attending the Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station’s 113th Plant Science Day Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lockwood Farm, located at 890 Evergreen Ave. in Hamden. For more information, go to Plant Science Day 2023 (ct.gov).
Pat Dray is a past president of the Garden Club of Orange and a master gardener.