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Seep water may hurt plants
Published Monday, May 5, 2008
VIDALIA — While area residents have spent several weeks wondering if their houses and livelihoods would be submerged by the higher-than-average river, for local growers it may be the water under the ground that plays the most important role.
Seep water — water that the river has pushed through the ground, essentially raising the water table, has left many areas saturated and soggy.
That could mean trouble for horticulturalists and lovers of ornamental plants in soaked areas.
“The seep water will probably kill some of the plants,” Vidalia horticulturalist Eleanor Talley said. “The seepage water is not healthy water.”
For tree lovers, most of the trees in the area won’t be negatively affected.
“Most trees can take a little bit of saturation, as long as it’s not standing water,” MSU Extension Professor of Forestry Stephen Dickie said. “When you’re talking about the pine trees in the area, they are what is called a facilitated wetland species. They prefer the highlands but can acclimate to the delta area.”
As long as the water isn’t standing or doesn’t get too hot, the trees should be OK, though magnolias or dogwoods will not likely respond well to the constant soil saturation, Dickie said.
As the river level continues to fall, the water table will follow suit, and seep water will eventually dry up.
The river is expected to stand at approximately 54 feet today, approximately 6 feet above flood stage at the Natchez-Vidalia pass.
Comments
Posted by meluvcookies (anonymous) on May 5, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I will be sooo glad when my backyard can get back to normal; and I live right in town! It has river seepage that I can't even cut my grass. My poor dog has to literally stay in his doghouse, poor thang! But I'm really blessed, especially when I've seen pics of people's homes that have been flooded.
Posted by skippydammit (anonymous) on May 5, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good article Democrat !
Have a few questions as this article peaked my interest.
What does the article mean by " the seepage water is not healthy water" ?
Mrs. Talley is very knowledgeable about plants and their care. Anyone who knows her knows she definitely knows plants. Vidalia is fortunate to have her and her expertise.
Perhaps the Democrat could do an "update" on this story and give more details about what the seepage water contains (or does not contaion?) which makes it "not healthy water".
Examples:
Is there anything one can do to "counter" the effects of seepage water on plants, trees, grass, etc.? i.e. do they need more/less fertilizer? mineral supplementation? etc.
Is there any special care one needs to give once the seepage water dries up as the river goes down?
At what river level does the seepage problem kick in? At what level is it no longer a problem?
Thanks again for a great article. It peaked this reader's interest and left me wanting more (guess that is what writers are supposed to do..:)
:)
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on May 5, 2008 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree! What is in the water that is not "healthy"? My yard and neighborhood is six inches deep in seepage water. We have to wear our mud boots to go outside. Are we at risk for the unhealthy things in the water? As far as my plants they are loving this wet ground! Few are underwater but the ground is saturated. I think seepage kicks in when the river gets above flood stage (48 ft.) and starts to go down (VERY SLOWLY) after the river gets below flood stage. I have been around for a few high times and it takes along time for the ground to dry up. Where I am it will most likely be July unless we have heavy rain then maybe August.
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