Often when someone dies, we are left with one lingering question, “Why?” Sometimes the answer is painfully obvious; a terminal illness or a devasting accident. In other instances, though, the answer is illusive and never fully reveals itself. The question looms large “Why?” and the survivors may struggle with coping.
Using the analogy of a person’s death when transitioning to why plants die is a fatally flawed comparison. As this is a gardening column, I ask for a wide berth while making the transition. When a plant dies those that were meant to care for it may also ask themselves, “Why?” Taking care of a living thing is a responsibility many of us take seriously. It is frustrating to have one (or many) of those plants fail to thrive. For this column, in an attempt to answer the question of “Why?”, I have developed a list of the most common reasons why plants die.
1. Overwatering – Unfortunately overwatering is the number one reason plants die in our area. Frustratingly, this very common reason that plants fail to thrive is entirely preventable. A healthy soil structure is composed of 25% oxygen and 25% water. When a soil receives too much water, it squeezes out the oxygen, and the plant suffocates. Roots need oxygen and overwatering suffocates the plants. If you have an irrigation system, I highly recommend that you use a low-profile rain gauge to physically measure how much water is being put on your flowers, shrubs and trees by your irrigation system. Plants typically need about one inch of water per week.
2. Underwatering – All of us are aware of that parched feeling in the heat of the summer. When we feel this, we are able to get ourselves a glass of water. Plants can’t do that and must rely on us and mother nature to water them. When possible, please make sure to water the root system, not the leaves of the plants.
3. Hardiness Issues – The United States is broken up into 25 different hardiness zones. Our area is hardiness zone 5b. Each hardiness zone is directly correlated to the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature. In layman’s terms this is the coldest expected temperature each winter for that area. When purchasing plants make sure to look at the plant tag and determine the hardiness zone range for each plant. For example, if you purchase a flower for which the hardiness zone range is 6a-11b that plant will most likely not live through the winter and considered an annual flower in Northern Illinois. If you purchase a flower that is labeled with a hardiness zone range from 4b-8a, that plant is considered a perennial flower and should make it through the winter. Some plants such as Japanese Maples and some Butterfly bushes are considered marginally hardy. This means that some winters they will survive while others they will not. It just depends on how cold it gets.
4. Insects – Although not common, heavy insect infestations do kill shrubs and trees. Specifically in our area virtually all of the Ash trees were killed due to an insect that most likely arrived in shipping materials from Asia. Within 15 years of it first being discovered, millions of Ash trees were dead from the destructive behavior of this insect. The much more common Japanese Beetles decimate the leaves of shrubs and trees each year. Typically, those plants due not die though.
5. Diseases – Fungal diseases such as anthracnose and verticillium wilt are present in the area. These can cause leaf spotting, early defoliation and even death. Many of these are treatable. Root rot is a disease that can also develop if the soil is too moist.
6. Environmental Conditions – Extreme temperatures, strong winds, heavy snow fall or ice can have a detrimental effect on plants. Although environmental conditions are usually out of our control, it is important to note any of these negative occurrences. Plants may need a helping hand if recovering from these through the removal of broken branches or staking.
7. Soil conditions – Poor soil and/or compacted soil may provide a difficult planting site for some flowers, shrubs and trees. Soil amendments such as gypsum, peat moss and mushroom compost provide much needed organic matter to poor soils. These products can be incorporated into the soil at planting time.
8. Herbicide drift – Non selective herbicides are a category of plant care chemicals that have the potential to kill a wide variety of plants. When applied incorrectly, such as on a windy day, these chemicals may kill not only what they were sprayed onto but other plants in the same area. When applying plant care chemicals, it is imperative that all directions are followed carefully and that the weather conditions are taken into consideration.
Hopefully you never have to ask yourselves “Why did my plant die?” but I know that it is not realistic. When a plant or plants die in your yard, please try to determine the answer and then give yourself grace. We all do our best whether it is caring for humans or plants. If a plant dies, please don’t feel too guilty. Gardening is an ever-evolving process and there are many more successes than failures.
If you are struggling with the loss of more than just plants, my thoughts are with you. While gardening certainly won’t help you answer the question of why a loved one died, it may, over time, ease your burden just a bit.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
