Gardens Can Suffer From Smoky Air, Too
2023-06-27
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Wildfire season has begun in many places around the world.
2The dangerous smoke wildfires produce can spread far and wide.
3It blocks sunlight, poisons the air, and damages health of people and other living things.
4Some of those living things could be the plants in your garden, says gardening expert Jessica Damiano.
5She writes gardening stories for the Associated Press.
6Damiano lives in New York City and recently experienced several days of very smoky air. Wildfires in eastern Canada were the source.
7Damiano, like other people, limited the time she spent outdoors when the air quality was poor.
8She also wore a face covering, or mask, when she had to go outside.
9But the plants in her garden had no such escape.
10They had to breathe the poisoned air through the extremely small pores in their leaves.
11Brooke Edmunds is a plant scientist and community horticulturalist with Oregon State University Extension.
12She said plants subjected to smoke for a short amount of time will usually "bounce back," or recover quickly.
13"It depends on how close you are," she said.
14"There could also be a localized effect, where one garden is covered in ash, and a half-mile away, there's nothing because that's the way the wind was moving things around."
15Pollutants and small particulate matter landing on your plants can block sunlight, which is essential for photosynthesis.
16Reduced photosynthesis results in reduced energy.
17That means slower growth.
18Additionally, with longer exposure, organic compounds found in smoke can interfere with a plant's ability to take in nutrients.
19Any damage will not be noticeable right away.
20The best thing home gardeners can do is "keep an eye on plants," Edmunds advises.
21She suggests giving your plants some extra love and care for the entire season after exposure.
22"Most will pull through," Edmunds added.
23Wash your plants with a gentle spray from a hose to remove substances left by smoke.
24Then give them a long, slow drink of water.
25Also, hold off on fertilizer until the air clears and plants fully recover.
26Edmunds said people should not use leaf blower machines to remove ashes from plants.
27You do not want to risk breathing in what is blowing around.
28"Always protect yourself as the gardener," she said.
29Ash can change soil chemistry.
30If you find more than a dusting of ashes in your garden after a wildfire, bring a little of it to an expert for testing.
31And if you live in an area where wildfires are common, plant smoke-resistant species that will better withstand future exposures.
32Native plants are usually stronger than those from other areas.
33Finally, if you find ash on vegetables and other food plants, Edmunds suggests washing them before eating them.
34Use a solution of one part vinegar and nine parts water.
35Or, she said, take the skin off the vegetable.
36The ash is on the surface only. Your food will be safe and tasty!
37I'm Caty Weaver.
1Wildfire season has begun in many places around the world. The dangerous smoke wildfires produce can spread far and wide. It blocks sunlight, poisons the air, and damages health of people and other living things. 2Some of those living things could be the plants in your garden, says gardening expert Jessica Damiano. She writes gardening stories for the Associated Press. 3Damiano lives in New York City and recently experienced several days of very smoky air. Wildfires in eastern Canada were the source. 4Damiano, like other people, limited the time she spent outdoors when the air quality was poor. She also wore a face covering, or mask, when she had to go outside. 5But the plants in her garden had no such escape. They had to breathe the poisoned air through the extremely small pores in their leaves. 6Brooke Edmunds is a plant scientist and community horticulturalist with Oregon State University Extension. She said plants subjected to smoke for a short amount of time will usually "bounce back," or recover quickly. 7"It depends on how close you are," she said. "There could also be a localized effect, where one garden is covered in ash, and a half-mile away, there's nothing because that's the way the wind was moving things around." 8Pollutants and small particulate matter landing on your plants can block sunlight, which is essential for photosynthesis. Reduced photosynthesis results in reduced energy. That means slower growth. 9Additionally, with longer exposure, organic compounds found in smoke can interfere with a plant's ability to take in nutrients. Any damage will not be noticeable right away. 10The best thing home gardeners can do is "keep an eye on plants," Edmunds advises. She suggests giving your plants some extra love and care for the entire season after exposure. 11"Most will pull through," Edmunds added. 12Wash your plants with a gentle spray from a hose to remove substances left by smoke. Then give them a long, slow drink of water. Also, hold off on fertilizer until the air clears and plants fully recover. 13Edmunds said people should not use leaf blower machines to remove ashes from plants. You do not want to risk breathing in what is blowing around. 14"Always protect yourself as the gardener," she said. 15Ash can change soil chemistry. If you find more than a dusting of ashes in your garden after a wildfire, bring a little of it to an expert for testing. 16And if you live in an area where wildfires are common, plant smoke-resistant species that will better withstand future exposures. Native plants are usually stronger than those from other areas. 17Finally, if you find ash on vegetables and other food plants, Edmunds suggests washing them before eating them. Use a solution of one part vinegar and nine parts water. Or, she said, take the skin off the vegetable. The ash is on the surface only. Your food will be safe and tasty! 18I'm Caty Weaver. 19The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. 20______________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22pore - n. a minute opening especially in an animal or plant 23horticulturalist - n. a person whose work involves growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants 24particulate - n. of, relating to, or existing in the form of minute separate particles 25photosynthesis - n. the process by which plants and some bacteria and protists that contain chlorophyll make carbohydrates from water and from carbon dioxide in the air in the presence of light 26species - n. a class of things of the same kind and with the same name 27______________________________________________________________________ 28We want to hear from you. Are you affected by wildfires where you live? 29Here is how our comment system works: 30Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.