Drippin' Gardening

When the Rain Comes

Rain is a welcome treat for gardeners; however, too much rain at one time can cause plenty of problems. The good news is we’ve had the rain our yards and gardens have needed, but the bad news is that many of us have had too much. When it rains, it pours! The rain we have had since Labor Day has caused a few problems to many local gardens.

Plant diseases like bacteria and fungi flourish from prolonged leaf wetness and excess moisture around the plant root zone areas. Too much rain and overcast skies can slow the plant’s growth and affect the blossom production. Heavy rain leaches nutrients in the soil and can trigger nutrient deficiency, affecting the plant growth.

Foraging insects like bees and native pollinators may find it challenging to travel long distances during wet periods in search of pollen and nectar. Overly wet soil can also limit the accessibility to enjoy daily walks in the garden, and it can take several days for the water to drain in heavy soil.

It may sound like I am complaining but I am not. I welcome any rain for my vegetable garden in the months of June, July, and September, but as with so many things in life, too much of a good thing can become a problem. The sudden torrential downpours, crazy high winds, and the surprise hail that a storm brings can wreck a vegetable garden in just a few short minutes by causing plant damage, soil erosion, plant diseases, and flooding. But, even in time where we get the rain we need to start our yards ‘greening up’ our vegetable gardens and flower beds can get overloaded.

The fact is that Texas midsummer storms often make it difficult to protect precious vegetables and flowers from Mother Nature’s the wrath, but here are a few tips for what to do before and after a heavy thunderstorm, even when Mother Nature isn’t angry - just too generous.

• Survey the garden, beds, trees, shrubs, and yard for any plant damage. Take a survey of any leaf or stem damage that may have occurred. If there is minimal damage to leaves, you may be able to remove them. Keep an eye on plants that have received moderate or heavy damage over the next couple of days, the plant might be able to recuperate just fine on its own – this is often best. Try to stake up plants that may now be found leaning. If the main stem of a plant has snapped then more than likely, it is a loss. You can try grafting the stem back together. There is no guarantee the plant will survive, but you can try to salvage it.

• Try to avoid walking right next to the plants while the soil is saturated. During this time plants, and root systems, are very vulnerable to damage from stepping on them. Walking near plants can also cause soil compaction or impaction, both of which can limit root growth or cause irreparable damage. This is not a big concern if you have a well-designed, raised bed garden where you can reach each plant without stepping on the soil that is near them.

• Check for any exposed roots due to soil erosion. If you find exposed roots, cover them with soil or compost as soon as possible. Do not let the roots dry out – this could be catastrophic to the plant.

• After a very heavy rain, you may need to replenish nutrients. Having heavy water runoff can carry nutrients from the soil and completely wash them out of potted plants. Make sure to replenish these nutrients with fish emulsion or an organic all-purpose fertilizer. I recommend using the fertilizer at ½ the recommended amount.

• During the storm (or soon after) look for areas that may be draining poorly. You do not want areas of long standing water. This can be very bad for plants, and could lead to root rot. If you find areas that drain poorly, create ways to get the water to drain away from the vegetable garden. You could implement dry creek beds (rock beds) or use plastic water drains to redirect water from the vegetable garden.

• Eliminate possible slug or snail hiding places. Slugs and snails love damp places that have hiding areas. Remove any boards, stones, or other items that are laying around in or around the garden.

• Keep an eye on emerging weeds. Weeds love to pop up soon after a storm. The sudden charge of moisture to the soil will encourage weeds to spring up almost overnight. Put down some type of mulch to prevent weeds and to help ease soil erosion.

• For those weeds that do pop up, I recommend you get to work on them right away – they will be easier to pull out while the soil is still nice and damp.

• If your garden or flower bed is in a low-lying area, place a barrier across the slope to divert the water or build a trench to channel the excess water away from the garden bed.

• It is a good preventative measure to train your vine crops, including tomatoes and cucumbers, in a trellis or cage system to increase air flow movement around the plant.

• Empty any containers that have collected rainwater. These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. If you have a rain barrel, you could dump the rainwater in there. Or, you might consider using the wonderful, nutrient-rich, rainwater on your indoor plants. Go ahead and give them a treat!

• Keep an eye out for fungal or bacterial diseases. Damp, humid conditions are perfect for fungal and bacterial disease development. Diseases, such as powdery mildew, will spread very quickly in warm, humid conditions. Treat these diseases as soon as they are noticed. Waiting too long to act can mean serious trouble for your vegetable plants.

• Turn off your irrigation system. Stop watering your garden when rain is in the forecast. Even though soil moisture levels may be high, excess rain can remove oxygen from the soil and drown roots.

Your garden soil can only take so much water. After it has maxed out, the water can pool, flooding your plants and washing seeds and nutrients away. Excessive soaking after rain showers and storms can ruin plants’ roots, which in turn affects how plants grow. Waterlogged soil will push out oxygen. All parts of plants need oxygen to survive, so if they don’t have oxygen, they won’t survive. Deep roots may be affected first, but shallow roots can also succumb to damage if wet weather continues.

With a few preventative steps and a bit of post-storm action your yard and garden will only benefit from the rains without suffering a bit.