Digahole - A Division of the Resource Management Group, Inc.

Coping with the Drought
by: Paul Tukey
http://www.ppplants.com

Did the weather Sunday, Aug. 8, seem strange to you, too? For the first time since May, gardeners in southern Maine were presented with a certifiably rainy day.
And what's more, the forecasters are predicting more rain. Be careful when you ask for rain in Maine, my grandfather always said. The fact is, though, the lack of rain has devastated the majority of lawns and gardens this season.

The statistics are incredible. The National Weather Service office in Gray said Greater Portland's rainfall from April through July was only 7.83 inches, just 55 percent of normal. The paucity of rain, coupled with a lack of snowfall last winter, left the top six inches of the soil the driest it has ever been in this area.

As a result, our flowers have been less vibrant and have passed through their blooming period more quickly than usual. Our vegetables are drying up, with blossoms that fall off, and any produce we do harvest is smaller than usual. So yes, Gramp, let it rain. I hate to think of the hardship he would have endured if he were still alive and farming in Maine.

With a problem this severe almost across the nation, all sorts of companies are jumping on the bandwagon to promote products that either conserve water or help us apply it more easily. Many of them are gimmicks -- refashioned hoses and nozzles -- in every imaginable form. The equipment you already own will probably suffice.

One new product, however, seems to merit gardeners' consideration. Marketed by a North Carolina company as "Stockosorb," these space-age crystals absorb 40 times their weight in water. They look and feel like coarse sugar granules, but are actually high-tech polymers of crosslinked potassium and polyacrylate/polyacrylamide.

Confused? It's simple, really. The polymers are essentially the same absorption ingredient found in disposable diapers. Added to the soil, the polymers soak up water and hold it until your plants are ready to use it. It's like creating a water-soaked sponge for your garden or lawn.

According to Stockhausen, the German laboratory that developed Stockosorb, the polymers retain their ability to expand and contract in the soil for up to five years. Each time it either rains, or you water your plants, the polymers refill their reservoirs.

When the product does eventually break down in the soil, the process creates environmentally safe levels of ammonia and carbon dioxide. Stockhausen said the polymers have been used in Europe for decades with no negative side effects.

"It's really a tremendous water management tool for gardeners and especially landscapers who don't want to rely on the vagaries of rainfall," said Dr. Karl-Erhard Müller, a research specialist at Stockhausen. "This product can reduce the amount of water needed for optimum plant growth by as much as 50 percent."

Locally, gardeners have achieved remarkable results.

"In a year like this, when every drop of water is precious, the Stockosorb is worth its weight in gold," said Susan Austin, an owner of a nursery in Ipswich, Mass., devoted to growing clematis. "I can use Stockosorb when I plant in areas where it is difficult to drag hoses and I don't have to worry about the plants dying. It's just an excellent product."

Because the polymers absorb so much water, application rates are fairly minimal. One-third of an ounce will suffice for a one-gallon container planting. One pound of Stockosorb will cover 300 square feet of lawn.

Stockosorb is not yet available locally through retail locations. For more information or to order by phone, you can call 1-888-533-7764. The company also maintains a pair of Web sites with extensive information at www.digahole.com or www.stockosorb.com.

Prices range from $13 per pound when ordering a single pound, to as low as $3.50 per pound when ordering 100 pounds.

Assuming most of us are still watering the old-fashioned way without space-age polymers, it's worth reviewing watering techniques one final time this summer.

Don't water every day. Water heavily once or twice a week and allow the water to soak into the ground and into the roots of the plants. Watering a little bit each day will encourage the roots to stay near the surface and burn out during the hottest periods.

Water in the morning. All watering should be finished by mid-morning, because a large percentage of your water will evaporate if you water in the middle of the day. Also, water droplets on leaves and flowers can act as a magnifying glass for the sun and burn holes through the plants.

Don't water in the evening. Excess moisture in the evening, coupled with the dew, can lead to fungal diseases for plants. Slugs will also be attracted by evening moisture after the bright sun is gone for the day.

Plants need at least an inch of water per week to thrive. Since we have only received eight inches since April, gardeners have had to supply at least eight inches of water on their own.

How do you tell how much to apply? A simple rain gauge will suffice, or you can simply dig into the soil with your trowel and spot test the garden or lawn. These days, it would be almost impossible to overwater.

Consider aeration of the lawn. Aeration places holes into the lawn, allowing air and water to get to the roots more readily. Don't aerate, however, unless you plan to water heavily immediately afterward. The holes can actually make the lawn dry up more quickly if you don't add the water.

When all else has failed, take heart. September is coming with cooler temperatures and almost assuredly more rainfall. Believe it or not, the lawns will turn green again.

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