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DROUGHT PROOFING THE FRUIT GARDEN

© Connie Krochmal

Now the word is out. Over half the country is affected by drought. It's particularly bad along the East Coast from Georgia to Maine. However parts of the West are affected as well.

What can fruit growers do to prepare for drought?

For starters, make sure your fruit plants are mulched properly. Most people use organic mulches. Others may prefer non-organic ones like stones and brick chips.

Don't overdo the mulch. I've noticed some people pile it on really thick. This is a mistake. A couple of inches are sufficient.

The mulch helps to conserve the soil moisture. It also moderates temperature changes so the soil won't warm up quite as much on hot days.

Mulching is critical for newly planted fruit plants. Get them off to the best start possible by mulching. Most people plant, then mulch, and finally water. In a horticulture class I learned that is the wrong approach. The plants should be watered right after they're planted. Then add the mulch, and water again. Why is that necessary? The mulch absorbs most of the water before it ever reaches the soil if watering is done only after you mulch.

You've probably seen those moisture-holding crystals for sale. They are supposed to hold a reserve of water and release it to the plant's roots when the soil becomes dry. That is how they're supposed to work. Some experts say there is no evidence they really help. In normal times the crystals might be a good idea. But this isn't the time to try it if you've never used them before. I would be concerned about using them in a drought year. Once they dry out in the soil it will take a lot of water to get them moist again. So they won't meet the immediate critical needs of the plants this year.

Water shortages are looming in various parts of the country. Water efficiently. Sprinklers are terribly wasteful. So much of the water evaporates before it ever reaches the ground. The same might be somewhat true when we use hand-held hoses. Soaker hoses and drip systems are much better. Obviously these systems aren't cheap, but they may become essential during droughts. Once a soaker hose becomes wet, it's hard to move around. So don't bother. Save yourself unneeded hassle. Install the soaker hose in place around the plants, and leave it there.