![]() However, when well-established and otherwise healthy, each of the species performed admirably and deserves further consideration in areas with regular periods of extended heat and drought. While I am nearly certain that somewhere across the region stricken by this drought, readers will be able to point to an incidence where each of the following has failed. The following list of 10 species (in no particular order) survived the event with little to no observable effects. This once-in-a-career (hopefully!) weather event provided an opportunity to observe the effects of heat and drought on mature, established landscape plants. Source: National Weather Service Office in Wichita. ![]() This resulted in a two-year total of 51 inches, or 13 inches below normal. Precipitation totals for this time period were 26 inches in 2011 and 25 inches in 2012. The normal yearly precipitation for the Wichita area is 32 inches. There were 95 days in which highs were 90☏ or warmer and of those, 36 days were 100☏ or hotter. ![]() The heat carried over into 2012 as the warmest calendar year on record with an average temperature of 61☏ (average for Wichita is 57☏). That is an all-time record for 100☏ days, making it the hottest summer in recorded history. 2011 saw 92 days in which the mercury climbed to 90☏ or above and 53 of those were 100☏ or hotter. Climatologically, Wichita averages 62 days in which the temperatures reaches 90☏ or higher. So how unusual was this drought event? The two-year period brought some of the warmest temperatures on record to the Wichita, Kan., area. The calendar years of 20 were a reminder that our mission is important beyond our state’s borders. Seasonal drought, rapid temperature changes, scorching summer heat and perpetual drying winds make it an ideal location to stress test woody plants. Pair Horticultural Center of Kansas State University is a research and extension facility near Wichita, Kan., with a mission of introducing and evaluating woody landscape plant material for the state and region. The historic event impacted the horticulture industry in many ways, including some surprises. However, from March 2011 to spring 2013 a large portion of the central United States experienced just that. ![]() Prolonged, record-setting heat and drought - not very comforting words if you work in the green industry. ![]()
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