It’s safe to say we’re all familiar with the saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” but that actually might not be true if the rain and thunderstorms are too heavy! When left unprotected, the beautiful flowers that you worked so hard to plant can get wiped out in an instant during a heavy storm.
To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, our Hydro-Tech Irrigation team has some helpful ways to protect your flowers and garden items below.
Protect the Roots
What kills plants is when their roots are ripped up, so protect those roots by spreading mulch. A 3-inch layer around the root area will protect the plant from cold damage following heavy rain. Just keep the mulch at least 3 inches from the plant’s foliage.
Anchors
Although we don’t often get heavy winds in our area, severe thunderstorms can provide strong enough winds to rip up recently planted trees, shrubs, and et cetera. If you have recently planted these types of plants, anchor them down by using 2 to 3-foot stakes pounded about 20 inches into the ground. Stakes should be angled away from the plant before twine is tied to the plant and attached to the stakes.
Coverage
Rain is good for the growth of your flowers, but no flower needs to endure the beating that it will take from a heavy rainstorm. Cover your flowers with overturned pots, bowls, buckets, or other appropriately-sized containers to keep them from suffering damage. Be sure to weigh down the coverings to hold them in place. Rocks, cement blocks, and bricks will work nicely.
Wrapping
Wrapping certain plants in a strong fabric, such as burlap, will protect them from the elements. For larger plants, vines, and shrubs, wrap the plant in burlap and tie with heavy twine, using garden stakes to make a frame if you need it. For newly planted trees, at least the trunks should be wrapped, though the frame should be made from posts about a foot taller than the tree to ensure protection.
You can never be too careful during a big rainstorm! If your plants do suffer damage or you have other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Hydro-Tech Irrigation team.