This spring, we went the no-mow route on about a quarter-acre of our lawn, the last remaining groomed piece we hadn’t turned into vegetable garden or permanent meadow. What a relief! During the hottest, driest spells over the summer, the grass wasn’t growing anyway. The lawn we did mow during the drought – mostly pathways – turned unhappily brown. [Read more…] about Rethinking the Lawn: Cutting the Grass
drought
Distressing Colors: Early Autumn Color Change
Being first isn’t always a good thing. For example, trees that are first to have their leaves turn color are definitely losers. Premature autumn leaf color change is a reliable indicator of failing health, and the worse a tree’s condition, the sooner it begins to turn.
Although the display of colors that our hardwoods produce each autumn never fails to fill me with awe and appreciation, when it starts in late July or early August, it worries me. [Read more…] about Distressing Colors: Early Autumn Color Change
Five Regions Now on Statewide Drought Watch List
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that the State has expanded its Drought Watch to the Southern Tier drought region, which includes Cattaraugus, Alleghany, Steuben, and Chemung counties.
A drought watch remains in effect for four other State regions: Long Island, Upper Hudson/Mohawk, Adirondacks, and Great Lakes/St. Lawrence. [Read more…] about Five Regions Now on Statewide Drought Watch List
In The Dirt: Earthworms and Drought
Hit and miss rain showers and scattered thunderstorms have provided much of the precipitation over the New York State during this past month.
This has allowed some locations to maintain an adequate level of soil moisture while causing conditions in other places to become especially dry. [Read more…] about In The Dirt: Earthworms and Drought