| Author |
Garden Gate:  Everything's Dying in the Heat!  |
|
|
RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 4:18:56 PM
|
OK, I'm really mad and stomping my feet!
EVERYTHING in my backyard is dying!
It's really hot here, it is every summer. It's 110 degrees in July. We planted three white birch trees last January, with advice from the nursery owner, and I even called her this week and told her they're dying...she won't take them back, changed her advice, I'm really angry! Apparently planting them on the west side isn't such a great idea...too much sun!
It's so hot, things are just browning up no matter how much water we give them. This is our first summer in this particular house. It's a new development, so it's unlandscaped, poor dirt, no surrounding trees, center of California so no sea breezes at all...I feel like such a BABY and I'm ready to rip out everything and live with weeds and rocks! OK, feeling better.
Does anyone here live in extreme heat? What on earth do you plant? How does one create shade without transplanting huge oak trees? Any advice at all? HELP!
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
|
|
Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 4:46:20 PM
|
Leslie:
So sorry about your trees. My goodness, 110 degrees!!!! Here is SW Louisiana, a couple of weeks ago, we were getting temperatures around 99 and 100. Our front lawn was so scorched looking. But, the last two weeks, we've been getting periodic rainfalls. Our lawn looks so much better. Hopefully CA will soon get lots of rain.
Take care.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
 |
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
|
|
kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 19 2009 : 6:00:42 PM
|
Leslie, I am so sorry. It's hot and scorched here, too. I hate to water so I hold out til the last minute. I have lost lots of tomato plants so far. I am not going to plant trees til fall. It's just too hot and dry. We have not had rain since last week. It was supposed to rain here but missed up by a few miles.
You said it's a new development. Maybe all the top soil is gone. You may need to get a few dump truck loads of good top soil and good compost and start over but wait til fall. You will have trees one day. It might just take a little more time and effort than you thought. I wish you better weather and cooler temps.
Hugs, Kris
Happiness is simple. |
|
|
|
RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 09:11:25 AM
|
We peeked into a couple of backyards that have been professionally landscaped, by the same people who did all the front yards. I guess everyone's yards look the same for a reason! Grass, bark, ornamental grasses, a few scraggly-maple trees that look somewhat diseased. Nothing that would provide shade. My neighbor said she's lost a few trees also.
What DID grow are the cosmos and marigolds, geraniums and a few other random wildflowers. The boxwoods are hanging in there, but they are small. I think I'll continue to throw wildflower seeds out there every year and leave it 'wild', lol. I have a ton of hummingbirds, so I know at least they like it! I'm going to check out those websites Alee, thank you. I'm in climate zone 8 or 9. We don't get cooler temps until October.
The hardest part is driving around town and seeing all the houses we DIDN'T buy and all the trees around them...Big sigh...thanks girls.
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
|
|
|
Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 09:43:16 AM
|
We are HOT and DRY here in S.E. KS. Have not had rain for almost a month. We have the water running at least 12 hours a day. I don't water flowers only food. The grass is all brown. I have the soaker hose on the new blue berry patch now. Lost the 6 raspberries that replaced the 6 that died earlier. Put in a strawberry patch last spring, babied it along and now it's dead.
We only plant trees and bushes in the fall. It helps the roots get established and we get more rain in the spring. New trees have to be watered when it gets this hot and dry. We have lost 8 of our big oak trees. Don't know why. So planting some fast growing shade trees.
We had several weeks of over 100 degrees. It has cooled off some but still no rain yet. 40% chance tonight and tomorrow. Crossing our fingers.
Belle |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 10:41:20 AM
|
The best , fast growing shade, wind block trees that will grow where you are, are hybrid populars, with minnumal water, and they are ok in bad soil, you can leave them branched to the ground, or trim up as trees. They are disease resistant, and do well in extreme temps, from very hot, ( we were 115 yesterday) to very cold, ( minus 10 in the winter). and they will suvive the worst wind storms I have had, that will take down elms and oaks. Plant them in staggered rows, 6-8 feet apart from each other.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
|
|
|
RuralSuburbia
True Blue Farmgirl
251 Posts
Leslie
Northern CA
USA
251 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 11:20:53 AM
|
Alee, (big crocodile tears here,) Jonah & I planted about 50 mammoth sunflower seeds last month and only about 14 have made it, and even those are only 6" off the ground. :(
Hybrid Populars? Poplars? I'll have to do a search on those. Lancaster. Yeah, you know the heat I'm talkin' about. AND the wind! Thank you for the tip!!
*I've got stars in my eyes and exactly $1 in my pocket!* |
|
|
|
Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
|
|
Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1408 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 11:56:17 AM
|
The one thing that is not so good about fast growing trees is that they split and break off in the wind. Our local extension agent advises against it. I live in the desert also and we have been having hot days, but only a few over 100. The AC runs constantly. Ask you extension agent about trees to plant in your area. That may be a help.
Betty in Pasco |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
|
|
1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2009 : 2:21:05 PM
|
I have lived on my ranch/farm for over 35 years, as of yet never had any of my polars split or break off in the wind, and beleive me I get wind and huge dirt devils. I have them all over my property and the last ones I planted, ( they were about 2 ft tall at planting) are now well over 30 feet and they are 7 years old this fall. I but most of my trees form www.starkbros.com, mailorder, they are in Missouri, this includes my fruit trees, never had a problem with them, this is also where I got the poplars from, sorry about my earlier spelling, lol.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
|
|
|
Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
|
| |
Garden Gate: Everything's Dying in the Heat! |
|
Everything's Dying in the Heat!
