The 2005 growing season drought continues into the fall, and the latest weekly (Oct. 18) National Drought Monitor persists in showing northern and west-central Illinois under extreme drought conditions. Since March 1, Midway Airport’s rainfall deficit has exceeded 15 inches, and much of northeast Illinois has received little more than half of normal rainfall. While the vast majority of well-maintained established trees should be fine, Dr. Clem Hamilton, director of research at The Morton Arboretum, advises the greatest danger is for young plants that have not received supplemental water. He states that stress sometimes doesn’t show up until later and may make certain trees more disease susceptible. Even at this late date, watering within the tree dripline and mulching before the freeze season sets in is beneficial. Hamilton recommends keeping a careful eye, and if a problem is noted, attack it quickly and appropriately. A good arborist will target a solution as opposed to dousing a tree with a mix of chemicals to solve a problem the tree doesn’t have.
Sources: Dr. Clem Hamilton and Gina Tedesco, The Morton Arboretum; Frank Wachowski
WGN-TV/Paul Dailey
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
