Juan Ishmael of Bowling Green loads mulch for landscaping at The Fairways at Hartland. (Photo by Joe Imel)

If youre thinking about replacing your dead or dying landscapes — dont. At least not until the region receives several more inches of saturating rain. Fall traditionally is a good time to plant. But with parched earth reaching as far as a foot deep in some places, now is not a good time to make that planting move, several experts agreed. Bowling Green and surrounding communities are nearly 15 inches below average rainfall for the year, and October typically is among the driest months. It would be a waste of time (and money) to do anything until we get some moisture, Warren County Agriculture Extension Agent Luther Smith said. We still have plenty of time to plant things, even lawns, up until the end of November. Smith predicts that many yards wont come back and young plants that look dead probably are. Western Kentucky University horticulture professor James Martin has seen dogwoods and other small trees in distress and was surprised to find normally sturdy burning bush plants in trouble, too, he said. While some plants may come back, larger, older plants are having their lives shortened by the drought, said Russell Jefferson, owner of Hillview Garden Center. Three consecutive summers of dry weather are beginning to take a toll, he said. Were getting a lot of phone calls for lawn renovation and (plant) replacement now, he said. Smith and Martin caution people to wait and replant after its clear that adequate moisture more than one or two rainfalls of more than 4 inches each is in the ground. In communities where outdoor water use is not restricted or when water restrictions are eased, all recommended giving evergreens some help. The trees, which remain active in the winter, need a good drink every two weeks when Mother Nature doesnt provide it. Most nurserymen can recommend a few drought-tolerant plants, such as junipers, but there arent a lot of drought-resistant varieties available in the area, Martin said. There are some key points to consider when trying to establish plants:*Properly situate plants in shade, partial shade or sun, according to their sunlight needs.*Make sure soil is suitable for each type of plant or amend it to fit each plants needs.*Consider installing a drip irrigation system that gets water right where it is needed and typically uses less water than other methods, Smith said. This system should be used even for established plants in times of infrequent rain, where possible.*Add a layer of heavy mulch to plant materials to hold in moisture. While such preventive measures may be expensive, its cheaper than replacing plants and lawns, Smith said. The cost to prepare and reseed, even small lawns, will be several hundred dollars when a homeowner does the work, more if a professional does. The cost of plants vary by species and size and, if installed professionally, there also are labor costs to consider.