GROTTOES—Prolonged hot, dry conditions this summer had the same effect on Virginia’s nursery industry as it did on fields of corn and soybeans.

The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Sept. 30 shows most of the state experiencing abnormally dry to severely dry conditions.

"From what we have seen here, the drought definitely slowed our business," said Matt Shreckhise, who operates Shreckhise Nurseries in Rockingham County and is communications director for the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association. "It was such a dry summer we went for six weeks before a drop of rain. The ground was too dry to plant, and the landscapers just didn’t come this summer."

Shreckhise grows container trees and shrubs, mostly for landscaping companies. The nursery also has a field operation near Waynesboro that is irrigated from a nearby river.

"Most of the nursery owners do irrigate, so that saved much of the flowers, trees and plants that will be sold this fall to consumers," Shreckhise said. "We are fortunate at Grottoes, because we had a good water supply, so it didn’t affect us as badly as it did some growers. Others have had it much worse."

Fall is the best time for planting trees and shrubs, and nurseries, greenhouses and home improvement centers across the state should have a good supply of locally grown plants.

"I know the landscapers are coming back and buying product," Shreckhise said. "The rains last week really helped the ground, but it is important to have continual watering for newly planted trees and shrubs until the plant goes dormant."

Consumers need to make sure the ground is wet enough in the fall to dig and plant and then make sure to water aggressively after such a dry summer. "The first watering is critical," Shreckhise said.