About a month ago, I planted 2 small star jasmine vines on a large trellis attached to the outside dining room wall because my other vine burned up. I thought that they would be able to stand the direct sunlight hitting them from the west and the heat from my patio's cement in the afternoon. They were not growing and looked pretty sad. Every afternoon at about 2:30 PM for a week , I have been using clothespins to attach a large white sheet onto the trellis to cover the vines. I stuck 3 broken in half bamboo loops to the trellis to keep the sheet from touching the vines. Then, I spray the sheet with water. As the sun sets, I remove the dry sheet uncovering the vines. The vines are now putting on new, healthy growth. In addition, I just resorted to moving some of my large potted bougainvillea to an area of one of my flowerbeds where some of the plants (rudbeckia, coneflower) have fertilizer burn from too much water in order to shade them some so that don't need so much water. The bougainvillea are serving as natural umbrellas and just love all this heat. I 'll let you know if this has helped.
I have huge sulfur cosmos that need watered almost every day now or they wilt. None of them are blooming; however, they all appear to be healthy. All of my neighbors that I gave cosmos to in the spring have the same problem. Anyone else have this problem? The not blooming has never happened before.
Lessons learned while gardening in a drought...
Wow! I am so glad to hear some much needed rain is being received. Happy for those that are blessed with it and hoping for more for the rest of the drought stricken areas. It sounded as though much rain was received in a short time. If anyone was set up to harvest the rainwater, they would have hit the jackpot last night.
Htop ~ that takes effort to provide shade for your plants. I am not sure there is any plant durable enough to endure these austere conditions. I do like the idea of the large plants being used to provide protection for others. Do your Bougainvillea require lots of water?
The bougainvilleas that are in smaller containers do require more water than they have during past summers. I always let them wilt some before I water them which encourages them to bloom instead of just growing foliage. Usually, after each bloom flush, I provide them with bougainvillea fertilizer. This summer, I have only fertilized them once and they just continue to bloom.
I, too, spent much of yesterday morning moving as many things around into shade as possible. Have a small grove of banana plants that are usually 8-10 feet tall by now and provide lots of shade. Not this year. The are 3-4 feet tall and the leaves are burned. Dallas did not hit 100 yesterday so they are crowing about the heat wave being broken. NOT. It was 97 and the forecast is 104 everyday for the next 7 days. NO RAIN. My Japanese Maples are burned something awful. Nothing in my care has responded well to this heat. Even plants in the shade with lots of water have just completely died. This Spring started with so much promise.
Rained west of me, east of me, and north of me. Maybe today!
Wow what a great thread! Thanks for all the tips, some I know, but many I never thought of. We dug our "new" pond seven years ago and had several folks question our sanity. We went 20' deep and afforded it by making it smaller than I wanted. We still have water and the fish are doing fine. Our old pond is shallow enough now that the LGD's can walk across it and we are starting to see catfish on the bank. We actually had Roseate Spoonbills fishing it last week. That was a first.
I have everything that is potted in three plastic swimming pools, one has been in the shade for three months and I am moving the other two tomorrow. Still have a boneyard around it of things that aren't making it. Most of this is things that I didn't plant because of the drought this spring. For several years I had my kitchen sink, washing machine and my shower going straight out to the yard and after we had to replumb this winter, my DH thought it best to send it to the septic. I am going to see if I can get him to reconsider this weekend and maybe put me in a valve so I can use it as I will.
We are covered up with hummers, early for us, and birds are tearing into my feeders. Haven't seen grass in months, we have only had 3.5" or rain since last September. Right now we are getting concerned about losing the well. That will be totally disastrous for us and our livestock, not to mention plants.
Joy
No rain for us, none, none, none!
But we decided that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. So our front pond/tank is still holding water, but not much. We are having the whole thing deepend and enlarged. Photos to follow. We figure next time this drought comes around at least we will have that much extra water for the cattle.
Also, a new planting bed just popped into my brain. Actually I saw a plan for a bed in a magazine and I can adapt it to suit my spot. So out come the black weed blocking tarps and at least I can solarize the bed area. When it cools off a bit I can dig a bit and build up a new lasagna bed. Also can wood chip those fallen limbs to include as a layer in said bed.
I hope pecan wood does not have any plant growing deterrents in it. Does anyone know? Must find a wood chipper for rent....
Oh well, off to find my big hat and watch DH's eyes bug out when he comes home to find me plotting out another bed!
No rain in deep east TX and no break in the heat 107° today. But I am ever so glad for those that were blessed with rainfall.
Terri_Emory ~ I do not believe pecan wood will hurt a planting bed. There are some woods that will but I've not heard pecan mentioned.
RouxCrew ~ have you had problems with a fish die off? I know the commercial catfish growers try to aerate their pond to keep oxygen in the water. How delightful to see the Roseate Spoonbills. That is seeing the bright side of a bad situation.
LouC ~ we have a friend that has lost a vast amount of money in Japanese Maples. He had an extensive and expensive collection that has been devastated. He is so sad to lose the trees. He had been told to wait till spring before removing any but the odds aren't good. He is in his early 60s and doesn't have the enthusiasm to replant and wait for them to develop.
Podster, we are seeing a few dead catfish in our older pond, the one that is shallow right now, in fact we are planning on seining it to try and recover any large ones. Oxygen seems ok at the moment but our geese and ducks free range and it won't be long till the pond is not going to be able to support fish. It is tough to just let them die, but I don't have places or water to move them. We have in one of the ponds, a huge orange koi, maybe two. That is the real reason I am seining. My son and DH are thinking about the others. If I find the koi, I will put them in one of my stock tanks.
Our well problem seems to be simply a clogged filter. Full of sand and clay. That is scary in itself but we have water pressure now.
DH is going to run pipe in the morning to combine all my grey water to a barrel and he will put a valve on it for me. That and my little marine pump will keep my plants going for a little while.
Does anyone else use tree gators? They have truly saved several of my young trees, and a couple antique rose bushes as well.
Joy
Joy, the City of San Antonio has been using them on their newly planted trees and shrubs by the 100s. They seem to really work. How much do they cost? I snatched some dollar off coupons on the bags on the city's trees. I don't know where to buy them.
Well, you girls made me go look. I had not heard of a treegator. That is a good idea.
Especially on newly planted trees and shrubs.
Their home page http://www.treegator.com/ has a zipcode dealer search. Might be worth trying...
We are using about 100 tree gators at the wildscape where I volunteer, we planted many new trees and they about to go, so it had to be done.
By the way, it is raining right now her in Arlington, just a gentle rain, what a blessing, thank God!!!
Got 2 inches of rain last night. Its 72 outside and all three rainbarrels are full again. God is good. Praying that the rest of you get rain soon.
Rain here in DeSoto is more of a drizzle than anything. At least it is wet. The air has been so dry that even high humidity is a real blessing.
Formerly Monay Pond ....then this was a month ago down bout 3 feet then............it has about 6 inches of water in it today and we have pumped in water from time to time. We are deciding the cost of electric to run the well pump is not worth saving the vegetation or the fish. The lily pads are laying on the bottom and and huge bass are seen struggling in what water they can find, some is deeper than others. The fishing birds and the hawks are loving it. It smells like death.
Summers before have seen low water but nothing like this......1 pond out of my 5 has enough water in it to sustain fish
And then in the midst of my whining, I think....drought, heat........at least I can go to Tom Thumb for food...Ya"ll pray for Africa, drought,, heat, famine, and war.......
I think with the increasing rains, I might try to find a way to save some of the larger breeding size fish. Rains may come your way soon. I will wish some rain your way to help you and your fish out.
Htop and Podster, I bought mine over a span from Ebay. They can get fairly expensive, the tall ones I've seen for $25 - $30. I was able to grab six used ones on Ebay for $12 apiece. Then I went looking for the Jr. size which is flat and shaped like a donut, $20 or so. Found a guy on Ebay selling them for $8 a piece but wanted $7 each for shipping. We went back and forth a couple times and I finally told him I would buy 10 but he would have to ship each and every one in a separate box for that shipping rate. He sputtered but came down to $4 each. So $11 each was great for me. Wish I had more for my citrus, I am soaker hose watering them. I fill the tall ones up once a week and the smaller ones about every 5 days. I love my antiques at my front gate and I have no water up there. Since I started up about 3 weeks ago, my roses are actually putting on growth, my plums are keeping their leaves, and my pears no longer look like long sticks in the ground. There is little waste, and it takes me about 6 or 7 minutes maybe to fill one of the big ones.
Where I run the soaker hose I have tall grass competing for the water, the gators block out the grass and I haven't seen any growth around them.
My Westerland this morning,
Joy
Joy, thanks for the information. I sure wish that I could afford a few for my angel trumpets. You sure purchased them for great prices! Your rose photo is beautiful.
I would like to say a warm and heartfelt Thank you everyone I have meet on the forums and in person through the round ups here in Texas since my moving here 4 yrs ago.
unfortunately after Aug 18th I will not be around as my membership ends and with the work situation right now I can not afford to renew my membership.
so I thank you all of being such great people and gardeners and sharing and making me feel so welcome all this time.
LouC has my email as well as Josephine and Shelia if I am needing to be reached
I pray everyone survives this heat and drought and take care
Yesterday I spoke to a forester who makes his living managing timber. He said to watch the trees and those that do not shed their leaves are probably dead. Those that will drop their leaves will leaf up in spring but he advised everyone not to start removing trees till next spring/summer. He says many trees will surprise folks. Their tap roots run deep and they have defense mechanisms in place to protect them if possible. Shedding limbs and dropping leaves are examples. It does look like late fall here already.
In this area, nothing has changed. A rare sprinkle has raised the humidity to go with the 110° plus temperatures.
We have moved to more strict water restrictions and I heard that we are in year three of an ten year drought. I do believe I need to continue in this direction as I don't want to give up gardening.
Yesterday I also made a connection for a couple of rainwater harvesting containers. Each will hold 250 gallons. Even with light showers and the gutters, they will fill up quickly.
It is so sad around here. Almost looks like a movie about an alien planet. I'm afraid that what the heat doesn't get, this next winter's cold will. Working on being more optimistic but the reality is just too painful.
It is sad when you check the weather and think that 101 with an overnight temperature of 80 will be a nice break in the heat!
WE had rain....well maybe not mush at my house but when I went to take the kids home on the bus today it started raining in Chapel hill and it poured...My feet even got wet while driving the bus there is a leak someplace and I could feel it LOL but when I got home DH said we had a lil but not much dang it...3rd time it has rained in the area but it runs out before it gets to our place
My daughter and I recently made a trip to Alabama and Georgia to visit relatives. It was wonderful to see green grass and flowers!! We picked bowls of figs from my in-laws tree - so good! But now we're back and boy is it (Texas landscape) a sad sight to see. We have lost over twenty bushes and trees in our yard so far even though my husband watered them.
Even the wasps nests are small compared to what they normally are this time of year. But we are trying to help the wildlife in this area by keeping several large dishes and bird baths full of clean water. We have many kinds of birds coming around the yard (especially since we don't have any cats.) I don't know what they are eating but at least they have water.
Podster, I sure hope what you heard about this being a ten year drought is wrong! What will Texas look like after seven more years of this hot dry weather?
LouC, we can hope and pray for a mild winter with rain so the plants can pull through this. You are right -we gotta stay optimistic (easier said than done...)
We had a good rain up in Alba Tuesday, and then rain in Canton last night but no rain in Alba. Maybe a bit of a break is coming?!????!!
I was just outside watering a few spots in the yard and flowerbed before I leave for a few days. We are not supposed to do ANY watering in daytime and this is NOT my watering day but I am going to miss my watering day so I thought I would at least keep things from being dead when I get back. I was startled by all the hummingbirds, dragonflies and other critters that were flying at the edge of the water stream. Guess you turn on any water and the critters show up! It must have been the light spray that attracted them because I have a little pond with a constant flowing watering can that pours into it and it does not seem to attract anything bur a few dove.
Because I am allowed to water and pay a high price for it, my yard has become a sanctuary. Have never had this many birds and other wildlife. DH says we will eat out less in order to pay for the water for the wildlife. Kind and wise man. They do love the water sprinkler.
Had rain for a few minutes yesterday; however, it wasn't enough to water the grass and plants. At least we had a break in the heat which was a blessing. I too am worried about the winter. Lots of my plants were struggled through last winter and had not recovered when the heat and no rain started. A lot of them are weakened now and much smaller than they should be. I guess the weather will show me what plants can tough it out and only the strong will survive. During the past 3 days, more trees and shrubs have browned out in my part of San Antonio. I have never seen so many native trees looking so bad. Hopefully, they are just shedding their leaves to survive and will come back if it ever rains again.
My sister in Pennsylvania is lamenting that they have already had a lot of rain and will get even more because of the hurricane Irene
We will be going into Stage 3 water restrictions probably this week with sprinkler watering restricted to 1 day every other week including using soaker hoses. In Stage 2, soaker hoses can be used anytime. I'm barely able to water everything deeply in Stage 2. The San Antonio Water Board stated that it may keep the Stage 3 restrictions all the way through to the spring even if perchance we ever get some good rainfall. My health is beginning to suffer a bit due to being up all night watering on my watering day and being out in the heat hand watering the other days. Supposed to 108 today but later in the week in the upper 90s. Wish all that rain water could be diverted to Texas!
Yes, if there were only some way. They build pipelines to transport natural gas, etc. from Canada to Mexico. Why can they not put those resources to work and build water pipelines to transport water to the needed areas.
In some countries, water is more valuable than oil or gas but not here.
This week, we found three 250 gallon containers which will be set up to harvest rainwater. This summer has made me painfully aware of water for future use. And I do believe my obsession has made my husband more water aware . I have been amazed to watch the water barrels that I currently use. If we receive a half inch of rain, it will half fill a 50 gallon barrel just from gutter run off. If I can collect a volume of water accumulated over wintertime, it shouldn't be as difficult to maintain the storage through summer droughts.
I'm with you, Kristi. For instance the oil pipe from Alaska. In that water is not a pollutant like oil, would think that it would be more easily transported. If a pipe springs a leak, well, somebody just a little extra for a time. No damage done.
Have been following the thread "HURRICANE IRENE HERE". Like a front row seat. Thankfully, many have had less problems than expected, all be it, nothing to sneeze at.
Have started carefully watering the foundation of my concrete slab house. The yard has big craters and I don't want my home to crack in two. I sure understand that problem. We are black gumbo on top of caliche just a few feet down. The suns rays seem to be more brutal than ever before.
Dear htop, we used to dream about retiring to the Texas Hill Country but could never leave our friends and family. Looks like it was blessing in disguise. I think you have about the worst water restrictions in the country.
You are right LouC, the sun seems to be baking everything. But around here there are certain weeds that are still hanging on (green and alive) and there are "baby" mesquite trees that seem to be coming up everywhere. It is the weirdest thing. How do they do that? (grow in a drought)
We are only watering the fruit trees (with the hose) at this point. It is so dry here that it seems hopeless for everything else (although I still take buckets of rinse water from the kitchen out to a few of the bushes and the Mexican petunia.) On the way to town we noticed even the large trees like sycamore and pecans are beginning to show signs of serious stress. There will probably be plenty of firewood available for the winter (unfortunately.) : ( It is very sad.
This has become a bit long for those on dial up.
Please continue your thoughts and ideas here...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1216800/
podster- Do you have any pics posted of your rain barrel set up? I could use more myself, but haven't purchased them yet. I am always curious to see how others do theirs.
No photos... Right now I just have two barrels under downspouts. We recently acquired 3 ~ 250 gallon containers that we hope to have set up to catch rainwater.
DH & I will not be in agreement when setting them up. I would like all three connected and positioned close to the house and garden spot. I suspect he will want them out of sight which will not be very handy for using. They aren't particularly attractive until we need the water.
I hear ya podster. I have about 7 32 gallon trashcans under key parts of the eves on the roofline. I have checked CL numerous times for used guttering, but nobody seems to switch theirs out much here. Next place to look will be habitat restore, down in Columbia.
But, anyway, the only way to access our rainwater from the barrels was by buckets or buying a pump and setting it up. We needed a portable one too....
That system, the portable pump, is working great too. I am able to do it myself now. I had just never seen one or got to use one before.
Please tell me about your pump?
podster- The pump is a Pacific Hydrostar portable utility pump, model # 65836.
I also bought three 15' short hoses, to use for the uptake side. The out flow end, I use a designated 100' hose for greywater, and a sprayer. The whole pump set up has to be designated greywater, to avoid contamination of any potable water. I would think, if you wanted to use one to pump potable water, you might need another pump, and keep it separate. My main goal is to keep our well water for the potable water, and try to use the rainwater for laundry washes and greywater for gardens.
There are definitely some instances where I am using rainwater only...not greywater. For instance, in potted plants. Using the rainwater keeps the contaminants out of the pots.
On the pump set up itself....I had a small luggage dolly, and used a sturdy milk crate to hold the pump off the ground. It will leak, as I have to disconnect the greywater drainage hose. I wrap the short intake hose, the 15' one, around the handle and leave it hooked up. Our challenges there are lack of sufficient exterior electrical outlets. What we have, 2, are located on the front of the new building only.
