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Heavy spring rains may suffocate plant roots,make landscape plants vulnerable to drought stress Missouri The deluge of spring rains over much of Missouri may have saturated some soil, suffocating deeper plant roots and making landscape plants more vulnerable to drought stress, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist. "In parts of the state where the soil has remained saturated for weeks, roots of landscape plants that have been growing in soil more than about a foot below the surface may have been killed by suffocation," said Chris Starbuck. Plants can compensate for deep root loss by relying on roots closer to the surface to supply water and minerals. Also, as the soil dries, air diffuses to a greater depth, allowing plants to regenerate suffocated roots. "The problem is that until plants are able to replace lost roots, they are more vulnerable to drought stress," he said. Evergreens in general are intolerant of saturated soil and are particularly vulnerable to drought stress when they lose a significant portion of deep roots. Certain evergreens, such as rhododendrons and azaleas, are commonly killed by root-rotting fungi that infect roots damaged by periods of flooding and waterlogging. Soil drainage can be improved by grading and installing sub-surface drain tiles. Monitor the moisture level in the top 8 to 12 inches of the soil, irrigating enough to keep it moist but not wet, particularly during July and August, Starbuck said. Occasionally, dig down a foot with a shovel or spade to see if the soil is still moist and not soggy, he said. Trickle irrigation usually works best to maintain a good moisture level in the root zones of landscape plants. Such irrigation can be done using a sophisticated drip system with pressure-compensating emitters or leaky five-gallon buckets, which slowly emit water. Mulching will help to maintain uniform soil moisture.
Date: 5/8/08
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