Our hometown got national headlines this week with the severe rain and flooding we’ve experienced. Words like “catastrophic,” “deluge,” and “epic” were frequently used.
The last few days may have caught their attention, but we know that 2015 has been a wet one. This is good news for the aquifers, banishing the last vestiges of the drought, but it’s been a challenge for gardeners. (Hopefully it’s also washed out any sod webworms, that would be an added bonus.)
So what do we do now?
Fungal Infections
With all of the heavy rains saturating the ground, be especially vigilant over the next couple of months watching for the first signs of fungal infestation. This can manifest in a variety of ways in different plants such as the gradual dying off of branches in shrubs or brown lesions on plants such as vinca. One solution that addresses a number of these issues is Agriphos Systemic Fungicide, which we have in stock at the Kingwood Garden Center.
Our lawns are prone to fungal infections normally in Houston’s humid summer months. With the excess rain we’ve had just as we are going into summer, we are expecting to see more than we normally do. A lawn issue is much easier to address when it is caught early. If something looks off, bring it in and we can identify the problem.
Drainage and Soils
Some of you may have more issues than just the ground being saturated. You may have standing water in areas of your yard. If this is the case, depending on the plant and its resiliency, it may have to be replaced. Give it some time to see how it recovers.
If you’ve moved into your home in the past seven years, this was most likely the first time that you were able to see how your yard handles water. If there was standing water or flooded areas, use this as an opportunity to address the problem areas. Take pictures, record how much rain we had each day and what your yard looked like, then pay attention to how long it takes the water to recede.
The native soil in the Kingwood area is a hard clay. In many of the newer neighborhoods, the topsoil was just turned over, sod put down, and little to no amendment to the soil was done before the landscaping went in.
If this sounds like your yard, there is your summer project.
Consider putting in a drainage system, such as french drains, to allow excess water to drain more quickly.
Build up your beds with compost and expanded shale. This will help break down the clay and create a more well drained, nutrient rich, environment for your plants to grown in.
Stop by the Kingwood Garden Center for a wide selection of soil amendments.