STRESSES ON LANDSCAPE PLANTINGS

Barbara J. Bromley, Mercer Co. Horticulturist 97

 

NATURE-CAUSED STRESSES

• Moisture extremes (drought, flooding)
• Temperature extremes (rapid fluctuations, excessive cold/heat in any season)
• Storm damage (wind, lightning)
• Insects, mites, slugs
• Diseases (fungal, bacterial, viral, nematodes)
• Animals (dogs, cats, voles, squirrels, deer, rabbits, woodchucks)
• Air pollutants (ozone, sulfur dioxide, PAN)
• Acid rain 

PEOPLE-CAUSED STRESSES

Soil problems

• nutrient deficiencies or excesses
• improper pH - too acid or too alkaline soil reaction compaction from pedestrian traffic or machinery
• poor drainage (lack of percolation test, too much cement and asphalt)

Improper plant selection

• hardiness
• ultimate landscape size
• inappropriate genus, species, or variety
• inattention to pest resistance

Improper plant placement

• nearness to buildings, traffic areas, other plants
• nearness to downspouts
• wrong exposure: north, south, east, west, shade, sun

Improper planting and post-transplant care

• depth of planting
• soil testing and preparation
• root treatment pot-bound material, broken roots, girdling roots
• follow-up care: mulching, staking, fertilizing, watering

Improper pruning - timing, technique, equipment

Improper irrigation - too frequent, too shallow, not at all, wrong time of day

Wounds

• girdling wires
• vandalism or accident
• equipment injury: nylon string trimmers, lawn mowers ("mower blight")

Chemical injury "READ THE LABEL"

• herbicide misuse
• other pesticide or chemical misuse
• road and sidewalk deicing salts
• miscellaneous chemicals: liquor, oil, gasoline, etc.

Construction and excavation damage ("builders blight")

• grade changes: "Fill Kills"
• soil compaction
• chemical injuries (spilled lime, paint, etc.)

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