Plants Are Smarter Than We Think: How Root Development Gives Hope In Dry Spring

While the lack of rain this spring has certainly been abnormal, all hope is not lost. Plants are very smart in the sense that they will do what it takes to survive. In the case of drought, that means searching for moisture to help with establishment, growth and development.

Although the top 1-2 inches of most soils are dry, there is plenty of sub-soil moisture. Digging down to depths of 3-4 inches and deeper, there is ample moisture available. The plants have had to drive down to these depths in order to find the moisture, and as a result, we are seeing some extensive root systems. There have been cases where we have seen roots as big as the above ground portion of the seedlings, which is quite impressive.

As the plants are expelling most of their energy on below ground growth, at first glance they may not look like what we are used to. However, these conditions are creating a more hardy plant that can better withstand adversity. When the rain comes, these plants will have the resources to maximize water uptake and we should see them take off!