New England weather is notoriously unpredictable, and this year late summer has been especially challenging for gardeners. New Hampshire’s high temperatures in July and August accelerated evaporation rates, compounding the effects from the lack of rainfall and resulting in abnormally dry conditions across much of the state. Fortunately, most plants are resilient and can survive a drought with intervention and proper care.
Chris Kemp, Piscataqua’s Tree & Plant Health Care Manager with over 30 years of experience in the field, had this to say:
“We had very favorable growing conditions all year until recently. The 2023 season was very wet, this past winter was mild, and this spring was uneventful regarding temperature swings. This contributed to healthy and abundant blooms (those with hydrangea experienced this firsthand!). Most perennials and flowering shrubs produced very showy blooms. All that changed as we entered August. We are now entering our 30th day of no rainfall. Most of our landscape plants are showing signs of drought–browning foliage, wilting leaves, early fall coloration and leaf drop. When a drought occurs, plants go into a semi-dormant state to conserve water and nutrients. And since we are approaching the fall, the effects of the drought are even more pronounced. This doesn’t mean plants are dying, but it does mean that they are stressed. If you have concerns about your plants that are not looking well, please feel free to contact us to inspect and make any recommendations to help with their recovery.”
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