Our dry, hot conditions are really doing a number on area crops, and virtually anything that grows. So how bad is it? The Department of Agriculture monitors the drought situation across the country.
From May 29th to now, Illinois has gone from eight percent of the state in a moderate drought , which means some water shortages and some damage to crops, to 92 percent. And while just two percent of the state was seeing a severe drought, that has now climbed. 40 percent of the state is seeing water restrictions and likely crop losses.
Drought numbers are on the rise in Iowa as well. Eight percent of the state was moderate a month ago. Now 45 percent is. And while no one was in a severe drought back then, now one percent of the state is.
While farmers are struggling in the fields, experts say your lawn at home should be just fine. Most homeowners want to see lush plants and vibrant flowers. But when the only water we're getting comes from features like fountains, many are seeing something else instead. "It looks brown and crunchy and it looks dead," Kate Terrell says. The Wallace's Garden Center Manager goes on to say, "But as soon as we get cooler temperatures and more water, it's gonna green right up."
She says that's because grass in this area is a "cool season grass" that will go dormant without rain. You don't have to water it. "So you can wait it out, stay inside in air conditioning and not worry about watering." Unless you want your grass to stay green through the season. "A typical lawn needs an inch of water per week," Terrell says.
So do newly planted trees and shrubs. Those that have been in the ground for several years are more resilient. But flowers are not. They need more attention and water every day.
That has some getting creative. Terrell says, "Some people take ice cube trays and dump the ice cubes in their pots and let the water melt all day. That works great for hanging baskets that are tough to keep watered in this dry weather."
Experts suggest watering at night to give the moisture a chance to sink in. And they remind us, while this year is tougher than most, this happens on a regular basis. "We'll get through it," Terrell says. "It will get cooler." If you have questions, experts say call your local nursery or garden center.
