We can forget that plants get stressed, too. Sometimes they conceal it, under a stiff upper leaf, until one day when they keel over.


--- Alice Walker, "The Color Purple"

Working in the garden relieves stress. It's a relaxing, mindless activity that lets us forget our worries as we tune into the world around us. I love to dig holes and smell the freshness of the earth and drag a hose around until everything is wet, including myself. I must have been a golden retriever in another life.

While we are enjoying ourselves, we can forget that plants get stressed too. Just like us.

Sometimes they conceal it, under a stiff upper leaf, until one day when they keel over. I've heard people say that a tree just up and died on them. They go through a list of possibilities such as drought, insect damage, disease, but deny it could be any of those reasons. They shake their head and say it's a mystery. The problem is, it can take trees years to die. Owners may have forgotten the drought two years ago that weakened the plant and made it susceptible to all sorts of problems.

Drought is a major problem, particularly when combined with light, sandy soil conditions. This means we have to be alert to the signs of stress. Look for wilting, or leaf-edge scorch, and stunting. Stress predisposes a plant to winter injury, disease and insect attack.

So what's a gardener to do?

Build up the soil by adding organic matter and mulch to increase moisture retention. Keep track of how much water plants get naturally with a rain gauge and use a hose or drip irrigation when necessary. It is critical to monitor new plantings and keep them watered while they are settling in.

Conversely, over-watering can also stress plants by stimulating them to use their energy for growth rather than defense, making them a target for insect invasion.

To make watering easier, know the moisture needs of your plants and group them together. Or choose drought-tolerant plants such as those with silver foliage like Russian sage, dianthus, dusty miller, lamb's ears, lavender and artemisia.

When I'm hungry, I get cranky. The same thing happens to plants. They need proper feeding to stay happy. And like us, they can develop problems if overfed. Too much rapid-release fertilizer, like too much water, stimulates the plant to grow and depletes energy that would go into defending itself against insects. Read the labels on the products you use and follow directions. Don't make every day Thanksgiving for your plants.

Some plants are already stressed when you buy them because growers have pushed them to the limit with fertilizer, forcing them to bloom. Plants pumped up on steroids go into withdrawal when they are planted and often die a couple of years later. Beware of bargains and know the integrity of the nursery you do business with.

Light can be another source of stress. Plants get sunburned just like us, so make light changes gradually when putting a houseplant outdoors and when you are bringing it indoors. Too little light can also weaken a plant. Many plants are not good neighbors and try to grow right over other plants, eliminating their light source and eventually killing them. You may have to take sides and intervene.

Cold and wind can also impair resistance. Choose a protected location for planting or provide proper winter cover. Other stress factors include pollution from automobile exhausts, dust, reflections off concrete walkways or asphalt that create a microclimate and injury from lawn mowers or string trimmers. Mulch can help keep you from getting too close and removing bark, which increases the possibility of attracting wood-boring insects, but don't pile it against the trunk of a plant or you'll suffocate it.

Improper pruning can also stress a plant. Winter is the best time, when plants are dormant and aren't producing chemicals that attract insects. Also beware of pruning that stimulates succulent growth. It attracts aphids and planthoppers. Be careful not to cut too deep into the branch collar when topping trees or plants will find it difficult to heal themselves.

So the next time you're enjoying a stress-free afternoon in the garden, take a look around and make sure your plants are, too.

Master gardener Stephanie Foster has written about gardening on the Cape for eight years. She may be reached by e-mail at justgardening@comcast.net.