ALTHOUGH most of us dread the violent wind gusts and hail that sometimes accompany a storm, fearing for our plants, and our house, we forget how beneficial this rain can be for the plants we grow.
Meaningful rain can provide our plants with essential moisture, nutrients, and nitrogen, which helps them to grow and become more vibrant.
Too much, all at once, can have an opposite negative effect. Waterlogged, they then struggle to survive. Water suffocating the roots thus promoting disease.
If you’ve ever wondered why your grass turns a lush bright green after a decent amount of rain, it’s because of the nitrogen being washed from the atmosphere.
This natural occurrence is better than shop-bought nitrogen and has a natural pH balance that your plants will thank you for.
Although rain attracts pests like slugs and snails as well as some diseases, which one has to be mindful of, a benefit to all gardeners is the ability to “pull the weeds” easily.
Even that tough onion grass can be handled easily, By using a long thin trowel to lever up the bulb, seems to be one of the best ways. By experience, I’ve found that by consistently getting rid of the onion grass when it appears, after a while there are very few left to be concerned about. Using a store-bought solution can be expensive.
If your garden is wet, try staying off the wet area, as pressure on the top soil leads to compaction. If you find there is water pooling in your garden, gently aerate the soil with a garden fork , thereby allowing water and nutrients to penetrate.
If your soil has been washed away add a quality mix of manures and soil to replenish your plot. Always keep in mind to add a different mix to your garden every few months. By adding more value to the original soil, your plants will thrive.
Let the rain work for you.
Till next time.
