Rain rain rain!!!
You may have heard a bit about the drought we’ve been experiencing here in Texas—apparently the worst since the 1940s. According to the US Drought Monitor, almost all of Texas is in drought condition ranging from “Abnormally Dry” to “Exceptional Drought.” The lakes that supply Central Texas drinking water are 34% full. So what do we wish for? RAIN!!
Like many places, we tend to get its rain in large rainstorms, not slow & steady rainfall. We are well educated on the dangers of flash flooding and tornadoes. So what does this mean for gardeners? Let’s go to my backyard and see.
After a major rainstorm there is a strong temptation to sleep in and assume your garden is also celebrating the valuable rain. (Of course I slept in the morning after I got approximately a FOOT of rain!!) But plants can be delicate and destroyed by a pounding or relentless rain event. In my garden, I had recently planted several new plants that had not yet established themselves before the storm. Since I live on a slight slope, major runoff degraded the mulch and topsoil, leaving rootballs exposed. Even the established plants had a hard time: leaves were caked with soil and mulch—especially hard on delicate leaves. Low branches and leaves were submerged, plants were tipping downhill… Not to mention fallen branches, floating mulch and everything else that went flying or floating around the yard. LOTS of work to do.
Don’t get me wrong: SO GRATEFUL for the rain. Just a reminder that a gardener’s work is never done!
Fool for Flowers 