STARKVILLE — Starkville Town and Country Garden Club members, Dawn Herring and Lynn Strickland, have prepared several tips to help gardeners, homeowners, and community members take care of plants and wildlife during a drought.
“Most Mississippians don’t look forward to drought-type weather; however, there are some steps you can take to minimize the damage an ongoing drought can have on your plants and garden,” said Herring, a freelance garden writer, former owner of Boardtown Garden Center, and co-chair of the Starkville Town and Country Garden Club Birds, Bees, Butterflies, and Backyard Habitat Committee. “Water early in the morning and water deeply rather than just going out and sprinkling will make the most impact.”
Droughts cause shallow water sources to dry up, natural food sources to become scarce, and plants to become susceptible to insects and disease.
“As a garden club, we have focused on providing more food, water, and shelter for birds, bees, and butterflies,” said Lynne Strickland, a certified Master Gardener and vice president of programs for the Starkville Town and Country Garden Club. “We applied for and won a grant to enlarge and enhance the pollinator garden at the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum; and to become a certified pollinator garden, we had to add a water feature, which has been extremely important to supporting wildlife during this current drought.”
Herring and Strickland have prepared some tips to help plants and wildlife during these “dog days” of summer, which include:
- Water deeply, but infrequently: A deep soaking, 10-15 minutes is better than a daily sprinkling, and it encourages plants to grow deep roots.
- se a soaker hose: A soaker hose allows water to slowly seep in rather than running off.
- Shallow bowls of water: Set out bowls of water for birds, bees, butterflies, and wildlife. If you have a fountain, add a rock or a cork – something animals can sit on.
- Refill and clean out fountains: Clean out and refill your fountain often, maybe even daily.
- Put out extra food: Bananas, fruit, and birdseed placed in multiple places in your garden will be welcomed. Fill up hummingbird feeders often – especially since they start their Fall migration back to Mexico and Central America in late August into September.
- Apply mulch: Now is a good time to add several inches, two to three, of mulch to your flower beds. Mulch helps the soil maintain moisture and can be added to flower pots as well.
- Use a water hose timer: Purchase a water hose timer and attach it to your water faucet. You can set the timer to automatically water on certain days and for a set length of time, and you can purchase timers that have multiple hose attachments. This is an excellent way to water plants while you are away.
- Repurpose plastic bottles or old hoses: Repurpose a plastic milk jug, plastic bottle, or an old water hose as a soaker hose. Puncture one or multiple small holes in the bottom of the plastic container or several holes in an old water hose. Set the plastic container beside a tree or shrub and fill it up with water or hook up the old water hose now made into a soaker hose. Both options allow water to slowly seep out over an extended period.
- Use rain barrels: If you do not own a rain barrel, purchase one. They catch water runoff from a roof, and you can attach a hose to them and water directly from them. They are also a great source of water when water pumps are not working.
“Also, don’t assume a business or city worker has responsibility for watering plants on city streets or near businesses,” said Herring. “People often think someone else will take care of it, but then the plant(s) die. The key is to help where you can; for instance, one of our garden club members takes six gallons of water each week up to the Starkville Café pergola and waters the plants in the planters. She also waters plants outside of banks or stores with her water bottle, which I think is great.”
The Starkville Town and Country Garden Club strives to improve the knowledge of its members through monthly educational programs, regional workshops, and the sharing of information and resources among club members and the community.
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