Severe Gardening - By Nature or Committee?

In the midst of a drought one has to wonder how reactionary we become to the drought conditions or to the reaction to the drought. This is a time to look at how we are reacting to the present situation here in the Southeastern U.S.

Most plants can survive well if some preplanning goes into where the plant goes and in what conditions. One of the best ways to insure a plant lives is to amend the soil with natural organic components. This can be turkey, cow manure or the ubiquitous fallen leaves that are in abundance. Any of these organic materials provide nutrients, hold down heat at the root level, and contain moisture. The simple step of good preparation upon planting is crucial to the viability of the plant's life under drought conditions.

Political processes also can exacerbate the drought by poor planning. Why would one mandate the planting of trees, bushes, greenery in conditions that insure the plant can not survive and will deplete the water supply of other plants? You do not have planning depts. insist on placement of trees 24 inches apart, along corridors knowing the tree will grow to have a span of 24 feet. The destiny of most of those trees is death or disease and deprivation and stress to the few that can survive under those conditions. We need trees, if nothing other than air filtration, erosion resistance and oxygen production, but we need healthy trees.

When plants are first planted they absolutely have to be watered. Initial planting is very stressful to plants and the watering helps minimize that stress. The first few weeks, months for some large specimens transplanted, are crucial to the survival of those plants. Legislative bodies need to show some common sense in insuring the survival of trees, greenery that is mandated yet destroyed by policies that insure the costly mandates will fail due to other legislative mandates. It just doesn't make sense. Take the time to examine the essence of the total legislative package and not allow isolation by dept. edict to counteract another mandate. The cost is to the citizen and our environment.

We need common sense integrated into all aspects of legislation by all those who have the power to create rules and regulations.