Alan Branhagen
D
rought is gripping more than 60% of the United States by late summer 2012 and Kansas City is experiencing its worst hot and dry summer since the dust bowl. My first thought is that of thanks to all those who stayed through the dust bowl and planted windbreaks, hedgerows and shade trees. Thanks to those farmers that began conservation practices to hold soil. Can you imagine what this summer would be like if all those trees were not planted and agricultural practices had not changed? I was reminded of that when I drove into Kansas City one hot day and my car thermometer said 106F degrees on the
freeway but dropped to 98F when I entered the urban forest. Now it is our turn to NOT give up and continue planting and replacing trees and garden with the wise use of water in mind. We need to continue to plant trees and those that tolerate more heat and drought. Established oaks and hickories are faring amazingly well through this drought and most oaks even put on a second growth spurt by midsummer. Hmmm. They were the original dominant upland trees in the region when the settlers arrived: they grew here, on their own without any care at all. Most oaks are more challenging for nurseries to produce and transplant but they are worth the added up-front expense. They will save you in the long run big time! Their acorns and nuts may be an added nuisance for a spell in the fall but a bounty for wildlife and the web of life. Embrace it. It is the time for all gardeners to welcome locally native plants
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Photos by Alan Branhagen.
Hot topic: Water Wise Gardening
Left: Hardy Hibiscus like this native Rose Mallow growing along the lake edge on the Island Garden need access to constant moisture to look their best but are tolerant of heat and drought. Right: Naturalistic perennial border in Powell Gardens’ Perennial Garden.
Left: Crape Myrtles are among the most heat and drought tolerant plants and are not native. Right: Bur Oak second growth flush. and more natural gardening styles that are more ecologically sound and thus conserve resources. That’s not to say you can’t grow some natives in a formal way or setting or not grow non-invasive exotics! This year has been so challenging that even the local native plants are going dormant and looking shabby but they will survive and return when the rains come. I can’t say the same about many exotics or natives from more benevolent climates. Some exotic plants are weathering
this drought just fine too. It does come back to “right plant, right place” in other words, where you plant them in your garden or landscape. The High Country Gardens (from dry Santa Fe, NM) catalog has my favorite diagram and information regarding selecting and locating plants for a garden. They title it “Watering Efficiently! Planning and Design with Water Use Zones.” Zone one is the oasis zone immediately around your
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Hours: Mon. through Sat. 9am-5pm • Sun. 11am-4pm The Kansas City Gardener / September 2012