Parts of Iowa that hadn’t seen rain in over a month got some relief this week. The dry conditions turn crops and lawns brown and caused some trees to drop their leaves. While the crops won’t bounce back, the chief of the Department of Natural Resources Forestry Bureau, John Walkowiak, says the trees probably will. He says we had such wet weather this spring that the trees had a good canopy, and when things got dry the trees started dropping leaves and branches they didn’t need for photosynthesis. Walkowiak says if the recent rain was a one time event, there could be some problems. He says if it remains dry before the ground freezes, there could be some damage to the trees. He says they could have shorter growth rates, reduced fruiting, and the conifers could be subject to burning. Walkowiak says you should keep an eye on newer trees and water them if things remain dry.
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