Plants love rainwater. It’s nitrogen rich, free of chemical salts and pollutants, and because it’s naturally acidic, it helps moderate the alkalinity of our clay-based soils.
?Lately however, the rain has been too much of a good thing.
Damage to plants, lawns, and trees from being in an oversaturated condition can only be assessed only when the gardens begin to dry out. What we can expect to find in problematic areas are waterlogged soils, drainage problems, nutrient deficiencies, increased disease populations, and aesthetic symptoms such as wilting or drooping foliage. Remember that soils must contain an adequate amount of oxygen for plants and their root systems to thrive. Too much water displaces the needed oxygen, which can lead to root diseases, structural instability, poor performance, a lack of vitality, and even death.
In addition to potential plant damage, there can also be long-term negative impacts on the soil. In areas of severe flooding, gardens can be susceptible to erosion as well as silt accumulation in downstream locations. Plants with exposed roots are equally impacted as those with soils accumulated too high.
Most gardens planted and cared for correctly will make a comeback once the soils dry out and warmer weather arrives, but it will take time. However, some annuals and other plantings already weak from winter damage or other environmental conditions may need to be replaced.
To help your garden recover from the wettest May on record, we recommend the following:
1. Be patient. Allow your garden and the soil to dry, especially beneath the surface.
2. Ensure plant viability. Call our garden services teams to assess problem areas and develop a recovery and replacement plan to implement this summer.
3. Improve drainage. Call our irrigation specialists to evaluate drainage and erosion conditions and provide a recommendation for critical corrective measures.
4. Protect and preserve your trees and large shrubs. Have our arborists check up on your beloved trees and offer corrective pruning to keep them healthy, suggestions for ongoing root care, and health tips to get them through the transition and ensure their vitality for the long term.
5. Nourish. We will be recommending supplemental organic foliar feedings, soil aeration so it can breathe, and compost to replace beneficial microorganisms, and mulch to regular soil temperature.
6. Be proactive about insects. It’s going to be a very big year for mosquitos. Begin taking care of mosquitos now with our targeted organic control solutions and non-toxic repellents. When used in conjunction with water smart conservation measures, mosquito populations can be dramatically reduced.
Tree pruning and mosquito specials are available during the month of June.
Contact Whitney Myers for more information: wmyers@lamberts.net or 214-350-8350 x 125