Save Your Plants Now! Combat Plant Drought Stress with these 5 Tips

Plants are remarkably resilient. They can survive numerous plant diseases and other deadly threats. Yet even the most adaptable plant can succumb to drought stress, which typically occurs during July and August, the year’s hottest months. Characterized by a complex interplay of physiological and biochemical processes, drought stress upsets the delicate balance within a plant. Knowing what drought stress is and how it impacts plants can help you develop effective strategies for protecting plants.

Protecting plants from drought stress can boost their well-being, enhance their lives, and increase the soil’s health. It can also conserve water usage and lessen the need for harmful pesticides. If you’re a farmer, protecting plants from drought stress can lead to better crops, an increase in a crop’s food self-sufficiency, and a farm’s profits. Below, we discuss drought stress and its impacts on a plant’s life and provide proven tips on protecting your plants from this deadly event.

What is Plant Drought Stress?

Drought stress occurs when plants lack enough water to meet their needs. This deficiency can happen due to several factors, including:
• Lack of rainfall: This is the most common cause of plant drought stress.
• High temperatures: Hot weather increases evaporation rates, so plants lose water more quickly.
• Windy conditions: Wind can accelerate water loss from plants.
• Shallow watering: If you only water the soil’s surface, the roots won’t be encouraged to grow deeper and access more moisture reserves.
• Poor soil drainage: If water drains away too quickly, the roots won’t have enough time to absorb it.
• Plant type: Some plants are naturally more drought-tolerant than others.
The intensity and duration of the drought, as well as the specific plant species, determine its impact on plants.
Effect of Drought Stress on Plants

Droughts can impact a plant in several ways. They can stunt its growth, cause its leaves to wilt and drop off, and reduce its ability to produce food. It can also increase a plant’s susceptibility to diseases and pests, damaging its health in the long term. Many plants, however, have built-in defenses to help them survive a drought, including growing roots deeper, closing stomata to conserve water, and reducing CO2 intake.

Tips on Combatting Plant Drought Stress

Maintaining moist soil is the key to avoiding plant injury. Here are a few helpful tips for dealing with drought stress.

1. Water deeply and less frequently: Instead of shallow, daily watering, give your plants a long, deep soak every few days. This deep soak encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, where they can tap more moisture reserves. Aim to wet the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches.
2. Water early in the morning: Watering your plants early in the morning allows the water to soak into the soil before the heat of the day, which can cause evaporation.
3. Mulch around your plants: Mulch is a material layer, such as wood chips, bark, or straw, spread around the base of plants. It helps retain moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation and suppresses weeds, which compete with plants for water.
4. Group plants together: Grouping plants together helps create a more humid microclimate and conserve water. Taller plants can also shade shorter plants, helping to reduce water loss.
5. Choose drought-tolerant plants: When planting new plants, consider choosing varieties known to be drought-tolerant, such as Paperbark Maple, American Hornbeam, Kousa Dogwood, Washington Hawthorne, and American Sweetgum. Additional drought-tolerant plants include Russian Sage, Lilacs, Black-eyed Susan, Lavender, and Coneflower. These plants are typically adapted to drier conditions and require less water.

You can also use gator bags to deliver water to trees effectively and efficiently during summer. Gator bags, also known as slow-release watering bags or tree watering bags, deliver water slowly and directly to the roots of trees or shrubs. They’re most beneficial for newly planted trees and shrubs but may not work for plants with extensive root systems. The size of the gator bag should be appropriate for the size of the plant. Drain the bag completely during cold weather to prevent freezing and potential damage.

Plants are remarkably resistant—no doubt about it. But drought stress can badly damage many plant species. Our tips to combat drought stress can help plants survive the heat. They’ll benefit your plants, the environment, and your wallet. Remember them whenever it gets hot.