TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Dry weather is beginning to take a visible toll on plants and yards across the region, with residents noticing more wilting plants and dull-looking landscapes.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Burns, outdoor manager at Tallahassee Nurseries, said the business has received calls from concerned residents. He said many of the issues people are seeing can be traced back to ongoing dry conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we really need is consistent rainfall,\u201d he said. \u201cWe would love to have that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Burns said new plants are especially vulnerable, with wilting often being the first sign of stress. He added that many plants were already weakened by last year\u2019s drought, making it more difficult for them to withstand current conditions.<\/p>\n
With the lack of rain, now is a good time to be mindful of water use, according to Burns.<\/p>\n
\u201cOften we don\u2019t plan for a more resilient future until we are in a time of crisis,\u201d he said. \u201cWhile we are not in a major crisis with this drought, it\u2019s very serious and now is a good time for us to realize how important our water use in our landscape is and hopefully start making more water wise decisions for more water wise landscapes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that established plants, such as shrubs, generally require less water than newly planted ones.<\/p>\n
He also recommended using mulch or pine bark to help retain moisture in the soil after watering.<\/p>\n
Burns said homeowners should pay close attention to early warning signs like drooping or wilting, which can help them take action before plants become severely stressed.<\/p>\n
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