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Waterlogged soils causing problems for Oklahoma gardeners
Oklahoma It is no secret that Oklahoma has had its fair share of rain over the past few weeks. Oklahoma gardeners are probably saying, "Enough is enough." For the most part, Oklahoma does not seem to receive enough rain, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service consumer horticulturist. "During some growing seasons, gardening enthusiasts struggle to keep their gardens moist enough for vegetables, flowers and plants to grow," Hillock said. "This year, however, it would have been more beneficial if the rain had been spread out a little more evenly. Heavy rains like we have experienced leave gardeners dealing with waterlogged soils and suffering or dead plants." Two things can occur when soils become saturated--the roots of the plant shut down or they rot. Both scenarios result in wilted or dead leaves and sometimes plant death. "As hard as it is to believe, the symptoms of waterlogged soils are much the same as under watering or drought conditions because the roots can't function properly or they're damaged enough they can't supply water to the plant," he said. Hillock also noted that these symptoms may be visible now or they may not show up until the rain has stopped and the weather is hot and dry. Some signs to watch for include root activity slowing or shutting down and plants showing signs of drought; decline in root growth which slows plant growth processes; wilted leaves due to lack of water uptake; root rot; and yellowing interior leaves. "Some plants may suffer from leaf scorch, which is short-term water deficiency in leaves," he said. "This is caused by dry or overly wet soils, compacted soils, limited root spread, root injury, structural damage to xylem tissues, trunk and branch injury, excessive wind and heat and excessive canopy growth. One sign of leaf scorch includes marginal burning, often from the top down." Unfortunately, in the case of waterlogged soils, there may not be much that gardeners can do but wait and hope the plans have some tolerance. In some cases it may be necessary to install or construct a draining system. A temporary system may consist of only a narrow trench leading to a lower part of the property. If drainage is a constant problem, a more permanent system such as a French drain or other subsurface drainage system may need to be installed. "One thing Oklahoma gardeners can count on is inconsistency in the state's weather," Hillock said. C 1 7/30/07 Date: 7/24/07
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