Can trees and grass dead due to drought be revived?

Question

I went away on a 7-week vacation and returned to find my 3 young fruit trees apparently dead due to drought (in Canada). Same with the grass of the lawn. I am trying hard to revive them with lots of water. Is it possible for them to be brought back to life?

Answer 1

'lots of water' can be just as bad as none.... be careful there and just give what's needed to make the ground moist, not soggy.....

grass will go dormant in crisis times... if it does that, it will come back with watering AND cooler temps.... young trees are iffy... do the scrape the bark for green idea.... crispy twigs are goners.... if you bend one and it resists breaking, it's still alive most likely... dead ones will snap off....

don't fertilize anythiing..... that's just more stress.... keep watering as needed and wait for cooler weather.... they might surprise you..... or you'll be looking for new trees.....

Answer 2

Depends on the statement "dead".  It may be they are really struggling - need ICU.  talk to your local Extension agent if they have them in Canada.  Or the local garden club.

Could be they are D E A D.  There is no reviving a dead tree.  Unless Jesus comes to your home.  He could do it!

But an experienced tree person/prof from the university ag program could tell you if they are ILL or DEAD.  Get the help you need.  No point in wasting water on dead things.

So sorry.  It has been a HARD couple of years for trees, 07 and 08.

Answer 3

i have found adding salt to the water will help greatly.

Answer 4

Anything is possible -- don't give up hope.

Unfortunately, with the trees being young, the lack of water may have been fatal to them.  Especially if you have just planted them.

The grass is another story.  Depending upon the type of grass, it may have just gone dormant.  The root system will probably have survived.  

Keep watering everything.

P.S. 7-week vacation -- WOW! I'm lucky if I get a day off.

Answer 5

Us a blade to scrape a small scratch on the bark of the tree. If it is green under the scratch, it is still alive. If not, it is dead. The lawn will undoubtedly come back as long as some of it is still alive.