It is not often that gardeners deal with as much rain as we have this spring. May was a record month for rain in our area, the most since 1889. No one can control the rain, but there are things we can do to ensure our landscape survives the saturation.
Do not mow your grass when the soil is saturated. Before you mow, walk across your lawn. If you hear your soggy footsteps, it is best to wait. Mowing soggy ground will likely leave ruts in the turf and can even rip the grass from the surface. Mowing when there are wet soil conditions – especially with heavy riding mowers – can compact the soil. Soil compaction reduces the pore space in the soil and reduces air and water movement into and through the soil. Compaction restricts root development of plants and increases runoff. Ironically, improper actions after excessive rain can especially lead to runoff of water during dry periods.
Replace wilting and yellowing summer annuals and vegetables, especially tomatoes. It is not likely that these stressed plants will recover from their waterlogged state. Being stressed is an invitation for insects and opportunistic diseases to attack. Better to replace these plants now and enjoy their bounty later in the season than have a struggling plant that produces little, if anything.
Ensure edges of plant beds are defined. If mulch beds do not have an edge, the mulch will migrate from the bed to lawns, sidewalks, and driveways. Additionally, avoid walking in plant beds when the ground is saturated. Just like mowing when the soil is saturated, walking in plant beds will compact the soil.
Wet weather provides opportunities as well. The abundant rainfall may show certain spots in your landscape that do not have good drainage. Drainage in these areas can be improved by adding ¼ to ½ inch of compost. Compost improves the soil structure which improves drainage. Future plantings may not be best in traditional in-ground beds. Your landscape may benefit from mounded plant beds. One way to make a mounded bed; plant half of the root ball in the existing ground. Next, place soil outward from the plant four to six times the height of the root ball above ground and taper it down to the existing ground. Mounding provides the roots better growing conditions. Just like you, most plants do not like wet feet.
