WHAT TO DO DURING A DROUGHT for your plants in Kelowna
• Doing nothing is sometimes best
• Avoid fertilizer – it can burn root hairs, cause drying out of the tissue
• Avoid pruning – it stimulates new growth, which uses water reserves
• Avoid pesticides – they can injure drought-stressed foliage
• Avoid watering, obviously
• Turn off your controller or adjust moisture sensors for minimum watering
• Allow plants to wilt, up to a point
• Remove unnecessary plants to provide more water for those remaining
• Use an anti-transpirant to reduce water loss
• Avoid fertilizer – it can burn root hairs, cause drying out of the tissue
• Avoid pruning – it stimulates new growth, which uses water reserves
• Avoid pesticides – they can injure drought-stressed foliage
• Avoid watering, obviously
• Turn off your controller or adjust moisture sensors for minimum watering
• Allow plants to wilt, up to a point
• Remove unnecessary plants to provide more water for those remaining
• Use an anti-transpirant to reduce water loss
• Provide shade for plants if practical
• Cover the ground with a mulch to reduce evaporative losses
• Determine which plants can live without supplemental watering
• Allocate water to the plants that need it most
• Those in the sunniest parts of yard
• Water plants that will die from drought
• Water most valuable plants
• Use ET information to your advantage
• When you water remember: water the roots, not the surface of the soil!
Favourite Plant today: Yarrow
Common name Yarrow Latin name Achillea millefolium cultivars Types
- Ground cover
- Perennial
Height 24-36″ Spread 24-36″ Light & Water Full sun: Zone 2 Bloom months
- June
- August
Bloom colour Red, dark pink, light pink, mauve, cream, pale yellow, mixed colours Foliage colour Green ferny Features
- Attracts butterflies
- Deer resistant
- Erosion control
- Spreader/self-seeder ()
- Winter interest
Notes E.g. Summer Pastels, Red Beauty All tend to spread by root and seed. If watered will need staking.
Health Tip:
The Canadian Cancer Society is concerned there may be a possible increased risk of cancer related to exposure to some phthalates. We are concerned about the long-term health effects where exposure to high levels may occur.
What are phthalates?
Phthalates (pronounced THA-lates) are a group of chemicals that can make products – usually plastics – softer and more flexible. They are sometimes called “plasticizers”, though there are many other types of plasticizers too.
Phthalates are used in a range of products, including:
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics (this is a specific type of plastic used in some products, such as shower curtains)
- medical plastics, such as PVC IV bags and tubes
- children’s toys and supplies
- cosmetics, such as nail polish and perfumes
There are many types of phthalates:
- DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate) is the most common and is used mostly in PVC plastics. It can be found in vinyl products and in many medical plastics such as IV bags and tubes.
- DINP (di-isononyl phthalate) is sometimes used in PVC plastics, including children’s toys. In Canada, other phthalates are more likely to be used in children’s toys.
- DBP (dibutyl phthalate) and DEP (diethyl phthalate) are most often used in cosmetics
What are we most concerned about?
The Canadian Cancer Society is most concerned about phthalates in certain medical supplies when they are used for children, and in children’s toys and supplies.