With drought in the west and wet conditions in the east, gardening challenges facing Nebraskans are running the gamut this season, University of Nebraska horticulturists and extension educators said.
Experts say wet conditions in parts of eastern and central Nebraska have caused an explosion of fungal diseases, while continuing drought in the west has sparked new interest in drought-tolerant landscapes.
Kim Todd, landscape horticulture specialist in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said plants that may thrive in one climate often suffer in the other.
"People are noticing that things they planted for drought tolerance in the last two or three years are not too happy in the wetter areas in eastern Nebraska," she said. "There's been a lot of importing of drought-tolerant plants from western Nebraska or Colorado. But Scottsbluff is very different from Lincoln. Those western plants prefer drier conditions with low humidity and cool nights."
After several years of drought in eastern Nebraska, some residents there might be misdiagnosing drooping landscaping, causing more harm to plants already suffering from soggy soil, experts say.
Dale Lindgren, horticulturist at the university's West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte, said one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is overwatering.
"If you poke around under the mulch, you will find huge wet spots," Lindgren said. "In the wet and cloudy conditions, we've also seen a huge explosion of problems associated with fungus, mildew, crown rot and molds."
Mulches that conserve water during dry periods can harbor fungus during wetter times, and should be kept away from the crowns of plants to prevent rot, Todd said.
Light pruning, good drainage and air circulation help prevent fungus. Plants and soil infected with crown rot or root rot should be removed to prevent spread of the diseases.
Conversely, southwest Nebraska and Panhandle gardeners are increasing looking for water-thrifty landscape alternatives after suffering nearly five years of drought.
Karen DeBoer, Cooperative Extension educator in Cheyenne County, said dry conditions have affected the appearance of public spaces - such as the Cheyenne County courthouse, where groundskeepers replaced two-thirds of the bluegrass with an improved variety of native buffalo grass developed by university researchers.
"The courthouse grounds have heightened public awareness of water-saving alternatives," she said.
Jim Schild, extension educator in Scotts Bluff County, said his agency has conducted drought workshops for landscapers at parks, hospitals, cemeteries and other public places in western Nebraska.
"We've really stressed low water use in these places where people can see how drought-tolerant plants and grasses are used and how they may be adapted to home landscapes," he said.
Experts say wet conditions in parts of eastern and central Nebraska have caused an explosion of fungal diseases, while continuing drought in the west has sparked new interest in drought-tolerant landscapes.
Kim Todd, landscape horticulture specialist in the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said plants that may thrive in one climate often suffer in the other.
"People are noticing that things they planted for drought tolerance in the last two or three years are not too happy in the wetter areas in eastern Nebraska," she said. "There's been a lot of importing of drought-tolerant plants from western Nebraska or Colorado. But Scottsbluff is very different from Lincoln. Those western plants prefer drier conditions with low humidity and cool nights."
After several years of drought in eastern Nebraska, some residents there might be misdiagnosing drooping landscaping, causing more harm to plants already suffering from soggy soil, experts say.
Dale Lindgren, horticulturist at the university's West Central Research and Extension Center at North Platte, said one of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is overwatering.
"If you poke around under the mulch, you will find huge wet spots," Lindgren said. "In the wet and cloudy conditions, we've also seen a huge explosion of problems associated with fungus, mildew, crown rot and molds."
Mulches that conserve water during dry periods can harbor fungus during wetter times, and should be kept away from the crowns of plants to prevent rot, Todd said.
Light pruning, good drainage and air circulation help prevent fungus. Plants and soil infected with crown rot or root rot should be removed to prevent spread of the diseases.
Conversely, southwest Nebraska and Panhandle gardeners are increasing looking for water-thrifty landscape alternatives after suffering nearly five years of drought.
Karen DeBoer, Cooperative Extension educator in Cheyenne County, said dry conditions have affected the appearance of public spaces - such as the Cheyenne County courthouse, where groundskeepers replaced two-thirds of the bluegrass with an improved variety of native buffalo grass developed by university researchers.
"The courthouse grounds have heightened public awareness of water-saving alternatives," she said.
Jim Schild, extension educator in Scotts Bluff County, said his agency has conducted drought workshops for landscapers at parks, hospitals, cemeteries and other public places in western Nebraska.
"We've really stressed low water use in these places where people can see how drought-tolerant plants and grasses are used and how they may be adapted to home landscapes," he said.
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