How does an El Niño impact weather here in Central Virginia? Good question. A couple of weeks ago, during our Weather in the Garden event, a guest asked Ros Runner, an NBC 12 meteorologist, if we would have an El Niño or a La Niña this year. Ros answered by saying that we will probably experience an El Niño come summer.
So, what is El Niño? El Niño is part of a larger climate cycle known as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which occurs when sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean rise above average. They typically occur every two to seven years. The most recent one was in 2023. Its effects on our weather depend heavily on how the pattern evolves over time.
What does this mean for Virginia? An El Niño could bring wetter periods this summer, as well as longer dry stretches. Personally, I have been in the plant business all my life, starting as a little kid learning to garden with my grandparents. Bottom line: “It is what it is”. We learn to adjust to whatever Mother Nature gives us.
But, with this said, we need to be ready. We need to be water-wise when watering. Here, at the end of April, we are dry. We need to water infrequently, deeply, and thoroughly. By doing so, this will encourage rooting and greater tolerance to dry spells. We need to use correct watering techniques. Water early in the day in order to reduce evaporation loss. Water less often for longer length of time to encourage deep root growth. Don’t be a gutter flooder. I would suggest turning off your lawn sprinkler system. Or, at least, use it very early in the morning. And, be sure your irrigation system is in proper working condition. Because of the dryness we are experiencing in April our fescue lawns are starting to look like summer already.
Let’s hope and pray for the best.
WE CAN STILL CONTINUE TO “PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS” – JUST BE MINDFUL OF OUR PLANTS NEED FOR WATER