Storms can wreak havoc across your garden, flattening early growth, washing out soil and leaving your containers scattered.
There are a few things you can do, to make a big difference to protect your garden against incoming storm, focusing on reducing damage, speeding up recovery and keeping your garden looking its best, even after rough weather.
Check Drainage And Fix Low Spots
After heavy rain, look for puddles that last longer than a day as they’re showing poor drainage, or low spots that trap water.
Fix small low spots by filling them with a mix of topsoil and compost. Pack the fill lightly, so it settles but it’ll still drain. For larger areas, you can regrade the area, so the water flows away from plants and restructures.
You can use raised beds to protect sensitive plants in your garden. Raised garden beds will lift the roots above saturated soil, and improve the drainage within the soil. You can build them from wood, metal or recycled material, keeping the bed height at least 8 to 12 inches for most vegetables.
Create a rain garden where the water naturally collects, by planting native and water-loving species that can soak up any runoff water. Rain gardens slow water, reduce erosion and help the water to soak into the ground, instead of just pooling on top of it.
Improve the drainage in your garden by loosening compacted soil with a garden fork or an aerator. You can add organic matter or a coarse sand to heavy clay, to increase the permeability. If you’re dealing with persistent issues, you can install a dry well or simple French drain to carry water to a safe outlet.
Stake Tall Plants And Support Top Heavy Blooms
Tall plants and heavy flower heads catch both wind and rain, and you can prevent breakage by giving your stems firm and gentle support before a storm arrives.
Use stakes, cages or trellises depending on the plants. For single stem plants, drive a sturdy wood, bamboo or metal stake into the ground, next to the plant, and tie the stem loosely with a soft garden twine. Tie at two points, with one near mid-height and one just below the flower head.
If you have clumps or plants with many stems, you can use a ring-style cage or a square grid of netting stretched between stakes in the ground, and will stop the whole plant from flopping.
If you’re expecting very strong winds, you can angle the stakes slightly away from the plant to give them better leverage. For top-heavy plants, remove some spent flowers to reduce the weight and potential damage.
Add Mulch To Protect Soil From Washout
Mulch helps to hold the soil in place during heavy rain, so spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch (like shredded bark or straw) to cushion the raindrops and slow water flow.
Place the mulch evenly and keep it a few inches away from the plant stems/trunks, to prevent rot, whilst still protecting the roots from erosion.
Use heavier or coarser mulch on slopes to reduce movement, by mixing in small wood chips or gravel at the edges of your beds, so they work as a simple barrier.
To stop your mulch from washing away, you can add a physical anchor, like landscape fabric under your mulch, edging along borders or shorter stakes for netted mulch, so the mulch stays put.
Keep Gutters Downspouts And Water Paths Clear
Before a storm, make sure you check your gutters and downspouts, removing any leaves, twigs and nests, so the water can flow freely. If you have clogged gutters, it’ll cause overflow that can end up damaging the soil and plant roots.
You can install simple guards or a DIY mesh screen to block debrish, but still allowing water to pass. You can bend hardware cloth to fit the gutter, or buy ready-made guards, as guards will reduce how often you need to clean.