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Like salt in a wound, hurricane-ravaged landscapes stung, but can recoverTexas
As residents in this Texas coastal city struggled to rebuild, watched lists of store re-openings and awaited the return of public services, a stunning display of crabapple blossoms burst open on trees throughout Galveston County. But their beauty was no sign of things returning to normal, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturists. Quite the contrary. "Usually, when a flowering tree or shrub blooms out of season, it is a sign of stress," said Dr. William M. Johnson, AgriLife Extension horticulture agent in Galveston County. "The trees are 'confused' about what time of year it is, given the warm dry conditions for several weeks preceding Hurricane Ike and the cool moist conditions occurring immediately after Ike." The confusion being felt throughout most sectors of everyday life in the hurricane-damaged areas was no less so for lawns and landscapes of personal homes and businesses as the salt water receded, Johnson noted. And the people who love gardening on the island are no doubt scratching their heads about how to help the plants recover. That's why Johnson developed a website with his colleague Dr. Don Wilkerson, AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist in College Station, to help people heal the natural beauty of the island and other stricken coastal areas. "You wouldn't believe how much the storm has devastated plants," Wilkerson said. "New problems/issues seem to develop every week." The site, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/Ike.html, has links to articles Johnson and Wilkerson have written about specific issues in Galveston and surrounding areas. People can find information there on specific treatments to aid plant recovery, if possible, or how to nurture the soil flooded by tidal/salty water for replanting. It also has links to Earth-Kind principles that may be beneficial, proper pruning techniques for wounded plants, the correct use of fertilizers and how to choose replacement plants, according to Johnson. People also can access the site to find out how to evaluate soil conditions, diagnose plant diseases and battle insects that often attack stressed plants, he added. "We'll also be conducting an area-wide soil testing campaign to determine long term/residual effects and potential salt accumulations," Wilkerson said. "Sometimes it takes as many as eight months before an injured plant begins to show signs of life." The horticulturists pointed out that even those plants that lived through the hurricane may continue to have problems with die-back or insects and diseases in the short-term. Johnson produces a regular column on the post-hurricane impact on plants. It can be found on the website. Lawn and garden questions can be directed to him at 281-534-3413, wm-johnson@tamu.edu. 11/17/08 Date: 11/10/08
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