![]() ![]() It's better to call a tree service than be injured by a falling limb. Also, don't try to tackle any large limbs hanging down from a tree (they're called widowmakers for a reason) unless you have experience dealing with fallen trees and branches. Be sure to stay away from any downed power lines and call the power company for service. Call in HelpĪfter a storm, don't be afraid to call in help, especially when it comes to safety. After that, you can lightly fertilize, applying a water-soluble fertilizer at half-strength. Hold off fertilizing for a few weeks to see if plants can respond on their own. If you're closer to the fall and frost dates, do some research for vegetables or annuals that can withstand cooler weather - there are plenty of quick-growing option s that may still work. Early on in the gardening season, you'll luckily have numerous options for replanting. Look at the calendar and determine whether there's time to put in replacement plants. Dig up the plants and roots, while being careful not to damage surrounding plants and root systems. This would certainly be the case if the plant is broken off at the base, but it can also be true if most of the foliage was badly damaged. It's a tough call, but sometimes the answer to the question of how to revive a vegetable garden after a storm is to remove plants. It conserves moisture, builds up soil slowly over time and prevents heavy downpours from eroding your precious garden soil. Consider the Ruth Stout method of mulching, which is to surround your plants with straw, leaves, garden prunings and other organic material. Replace the mulch where needed and beef it up in places where it appears thin. Bark chips are especially prone to floating away on a river of water. Replace MulchĪ storm can displace mulch on a slope or near a gutter spout. Long term, start to amend the soil with compost and shredded leaves to restore its health. Once gardens dry out, powdery soils (more common where the soil has been overly tilled) will often form an impenetrable glaze-like barrier after a hard rain. If you need to get in the vegetable garden when the soil is still mucky, lay down a board and walk on that to distribute the weight. Hold off, though, if the soil is mushy or mucky from excess rain - you can damage the soil structure by walking on it then. With less competition, the remaining plants can fare better. Weed if PossibleĪfter a storm, the soil is moist, and you can easily pull up weeds at that time. Also, inspect gutter spouts and remove any leaves or debris clogging the exits. ![]() Pots, saucers, wheelbarrows and other items around the yard collect stormwater and invite mosquitoes, so dump any water that accumulates. Cover any exposed roots with topsoil and add a layer of mulch to keep the fresh soil from eroding. Wind and rain sometimes expose plant roots, which will quickly dry out in the sun. Otherwise, allow them to remain as they're needed for photosynthesis. If they're broken or turn yellow or brown, remove them with pruners. Large leaves, like those of rhubarb, kale and collard greens, are most susceptible to storm damage. Many plants will put out new growth from the remaining portion of the stem. If there's a bud or leaf node, a swollen area where a leaf was once attached, cut back to within a quarter-inch above it. Here's how to fix a broken plant stem: Make a clean cut below the break so there are no jagged edges. Gently rinse any dirt or mud off the leaves to avoid foliar diseases. These can often be lifted back into place and salvaged, although they might require support for the remainder of the growing season. Lift Flattened PlantsĪs you're inspecting the damage, look for any plants that were flattened by heavy rain or hail. Raking can wait, but uprooted plants need to be set back in place before exposed roots dry out. Assess the Damageįirst, take a walk around the garden to determine the extent of the damage and what needs to be done. Here's what you can do to revive your vegetable garden after a storm. Going all the way back to prehistoric times when woolly mammoths trampled over them, plants have learned to adapt to adversity. Storms have occurred for millennia, and plants are resilient - they have to be. However, try to keep an open mind about how to revive a vegetable garden. You may find broken branches, battered foliage and flattened stems - it can feel like a disaster. It can be extremely disheartening to look out at the landscape the morning after and see months, even years, of loving care seemingly washed down the drain. When a storm passes through, your garden often bears the brunt of it. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |