Guest blog by Dana Cook, Balsamroot Writing
Our planet has been 2 degrees warmer since 1900, and climate models predict another 2-4 degrees of warming by 2050. Although July was the hottest month on record, temperature is only part of the story. Changes in water availability will have the most significant impact. Here in Eastern Washington, experts predict our current climate will intensify with the potential for extreme weather. We've already seen evidence of this with record-breaking temps during the heat dome of Summer 2021 and the late snowfall in April 2022 that impacted the cherry crop.
The impact of climate change on our garden is a good news/bad news story. Let’s take a closer look at how the predicted hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters may impact our gardening activities and what, if anything, we can do about it.
Warmer winter temps may lead to a longer growing season as the gap widens between our first and last frost dates. According to Climate Central, in our region there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of days plant growth can happen (known as growing degree days). This may allow us to try new plant varieties, start our gardens earlier and continue to harvest later - assuming our gardens can survive the hotter, drier summers, which can cause leaf wilting, fruit damage and reduced growth.
Photo by Julie Blake Edison on Unsplash
Warmer days may also increase the rate of plant growth. While this may seem beneficial, quality is sacrificed for quantity when vegetables grow so quickly that they do not have time to accumulate sugars and nutrients.
Many plants, such as lilacs, need a certain number of hours of cool temperatures to trigger flowering, a process known as vernalization. Warmer temps, especially warmer nights, may require a different tactic such as changing planting times or artificial vernalization techniques such as storing bulbs in the fridge.
The most critical climate change factor for North Central Washington gardeners is the potential for decreased snowpack. Winter precipitation is expected to be more rain than snow. Sound familiar? More rain leads to early peak season water flow and late season drought.
Weeds are well prepared for climate change as they adapt quickly and can stay dormant in the seed bank, awaiting the ideal environment. We may see new types of weeds in our area. Same with pests and diseases, the type and intensity may change. For instance we may see an increase in the spread of powdery mildew.
Some strategies to control the impact of some of these changes involve the good practice of the principle of "right plant, right place" and adding at the "right time" to take advantage of when water is most available. Utilize compost, mulching and cover crops to retain soil moisture and improve its quality. Take advantage of native plants and others that may be more drought tolerant.
Despite these changes, much of the natural world will adapt if species have the time and place to move to a more favorable environment. Some of our traditional gardening advice may change as we see new challenges and opportunities. By planning for and observing the impact of climate change, we can be in a better position to adopt nature’s versatility.
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