This week, much of the UK has been affected by the sudden downpours - the worst September rain storms in 30 years. If the deluge has affected your garden, here's some tips to get it back to perfect condition.
Home and Garden on Female First
Before you attempt anything in your garden, make sure it's stopped raining, and things aren't too slippery underfoot. You don't want to be climbing a ladder with a chainsaw to prune your tree in perilous conditions.
If you have trees in your garden, they might have been affected by the gales. Pull off any branches that have broken or become weakened by the storm. If you can see any dead branches, get these off too, as if the storms return, they will only blow these off. The wind may also have knocked your tree over, so if it's leaning to the side, and you can see its roots, you'll have to call in the professionals.
Though it seems that the monsoon has gone, it might be best protecting any compost heaps that are out in the open. Cover these with tarpaulin or heavy plastic sheets, to prevent any further damage.
Your potted plants may be looking a little sodden, so if there's a water level that's not going down, the drainage holes might be blocked. Removed any obstructions with a piece of gardening cane.
Be ruthless with your flowers. If any of them have deadheads, or have been seriously damaged get rid of them. It'll help your flowers bloom more, as the dead flowers won't be getting in the way.
After a lot of rain, the slugs and snails will be out in their droves, doing their best to destroy your poor water-damaged plants. Get out at night in your rubber gloves and collect them up into a bucket, or kill them off with pellets.
For those of you who are unlucky enough to have been flooded, the first thing on your mind will probably not be your garden. When you do get round to tackling it, however, you'll have to clear out some of the crops your grow. If you have any leafy green vegetables in your garden - such as lettuce or spinach - that have been covered in flood water, these will have to be thrown away. They will have become contaminated and waterlogged. Any other crops will have to be fully disinfected before you plan on eating them.
Emily Bancroft
Tagged in Garden Home & Garden