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September 14, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update

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September 14, 2025 Soil Moisture, Condition Monitoring and Drought Update

Sep 13, 2025

US Drought Monitor

Rapidly expanding drought over the eastern US with widespread drought over the west. Developing drought in the Ohio valley. Watering is needed and the outlook is not promising. Watering needed for landscape trees and shrubs, excluding some natives which may not need supplemental water even in drought.

Screenshot 2025-09-13 070259

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/20250909/20250909_midwest_trd.png

Condition Monitoring Report  
Station Number: OH-HM-24
Station Name: Cheviot 3.4 W
Report Date: 9/14/2025
Submitted: 9/14/2025 3:49 PM
Scale Bar: Moderately Dry
Description:
0.01 inch of rain in the past 7 days, 0.70 inch of rain in September, 1.81 inches of rain since August 1. This 
is only about 40% of normal. We have moved squarely into the moderately dry category. Dry conditions have
persisted for over a month. Rivers, streams and creeks are low to dry. Soil is very dry. Early drought inducted
fall color is significant as well as early leaf loss. Many trees and shrubs are wilted and showing significant
drought stress. Landscape trees and shrubs need water and new transplants are likely to die without supplemental
water.
Categories: General Awareness
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Society & Public Health
Water Supply & Quality
Photos
Hail Obs Photo
Hail Obs Photo
Hail Obs Photo
Hail Obs Photo
Hail Obs Photo

Other Drought links:

Please remember to water…correctly!

Water once per week, one inch per week, under the entire branch spread, in the absence of rain, May through November. Either rainfall or your watering should equal the one inch per week. Do not water if the soil is already moist. Put out a sprinkler and a straight sided soup can or rain gauge and measure one inch per week. Measure the rainfall which falls in your yard. Your trees don’t care what fell at the airport!

If burlap was left on new trees, it will repel water and the tree or shrub may die. Be sure burlap and twine are removed from the top of all root balls. If your landscaper disagrees, refer him or her to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) industry standard for installation of landscape plants.

To the extent possible recycle fallen leaves back into the soil around the trees and maintain mulch around the trees to a radius of at least 3-5 feet. Keep mulch off trunks. Use a coarse textured mulch. Avoid triple shredded mulch. Aged arborist wood chips ( https://getchipdrop.com/ ), mulched and composted leaves, pine bark, and pine straw are all good. Very finely ground mulches such as triple ground hardwood mulch are not beneficial and may inhibit moisture and oxygen exchange.

Drought: How Dry Seasons Affect Woody Plants>>>

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