I’m sure the rest of my fellow Garden State residents are truly enjoying the constant rain we’ve been experiencing. What’s not to love? Your landscape’s foliage receives the necessary nutrients to keep them alive and healthy, and residents can check watering off their to-do list. Unfortunately, too much of a good thing tends to have its downsides.
Excessive moisture causes your trees, bushes, shrubs, etc. much more harm than good. Your property’s curb appeal and overall property value will suffer as a result as well. Here are some signs that your flora may be damaged from too much water.
- You might notice that the leaves on your plants become discolored. Yellow or brown leaves are a sure sign that your plant is drowning. Keep in mind that plants are living, breathing organisms. If they are unable to breath, they are unable to take in the nutrients that are within the rain water.
- A more obvious sign are puddles of water around your lawn. You can definitely hold off on watering for a bit in this case.
- Wet soil isn’t always obvious. Just because you don’t see any puddles doesn’t mean your lawn isn’t suffering from wet, mushy soil. Make sure you double check the area around your plantings. The surface may be dry and cracked, but underneath could be wet squishy soil.
- Clusters of plants that vary in size and color are another signifier of too much moisture. Furthermore, this may indicate drainage issues or an irrigation leak.
- Arguably the worst sign of all are the presence of fungus, mushrooms, and those nasty little gnats around your lawn.
On the bright side, there are some preventative measures you can take to protect your landscape.
- When a series of rainy days is up coming, try to avoid watering your lawn for a while prior. This will give the land time to dry out.
- If you use a sprinkler system, shut it off until the rain stops and the area dries out.
- A final helpful tip is to incorporate rocks and gravel around your plants and into the soil. This technique actually creates air pockets for water to pass through.
- Again, mulch mulch mulch! In a previous blog we touched on mulching and its many benefits. Heavier, hardwood mulch is a great factor when rain-proofing your lawn. It does not wash away as easily, saving you the time and energy it would take to clean up the lighter chips that tend to get everywhere.
Have your own tips for protecting your lawn from flooding? Drop a comment and let us know!