Water a Plant – Save a Life

We are experiencing desert growing conditions in West Tennessee in the middle of fall. Prepare yourselves to lose some trees unless, of course, one is hand watering or has an irrigation system of sorts.

Everywhere I look I see sad trees – trees crying over the loss of their neighbors, leaves hanging as though they are in mourning. And indeed they are.

Plants are a lot like people. They feel the results of the loss of adjacent plant material just as we would a neighboring family in our community. They, too, have communities made up of diverse populations. When one dies, it affects the amount of light and water the surrounding plant material receives. The overhead canopy is left with a hole which in turn allows more sunlight to filter through.

This increased warmth translates into a deeper need for hydration, which right now, just isn’t available.

Look around your yards and surrounding areas. See if any of your plant material could use an extra drink of that life-giving, precious resource we call water. You may save them from the brink of death.

If you do happen to have a sick plant or tree in your area and need the advice of an arborist, you are in luck. Visit the Tennessee Grove website this week for a session of “Ask an Arborist”. You can get information that means the difference between life and death for an ancient tree growing in your area.

And for other ideas on saving trees – particularly in urban forests – learn more about Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.