All living organisms need water to survive, and plants are no exception. Whether you are growing tomatoes, cucumbers, leafy greens, strawberries, etc., you’ll need to ensure they are given an appropriate amount of H2O.
Without this essential element, your plants will shrivel up and die. With that said, too much water can have the opposite effect by saturating your plants to the point where they can no longer absorb oxygen.
So, how do you prevent your plants from succumbing to the effects of too much water?
Is Water Really a Problem?
First and foremost, you should ask yourself if water is really a problem in your garden. As long as it travels away from your plants without pooling up and accumulating, it shouldn’t be an issue.
But if rainwater collects around the base of your plants, it may create pools that saturate and harm them. The next time it rains, go outside and inspect your garden to determine whether or not it’s a problem.
Route The Water
If rainwater is in fact pooling up around your plants, you’ll need to come up with a new solution. One idea is to route the water away from your plants.
Pay attention to where the water collects and make the necessary changes to route it elsewhere. If water is collecting directly under a gutter that’s attached to your home’s roof, try installing an extension and running it underground.
Rather than accumulating at the base of your home (where your plants are located), rainwater will go underground via the gutter extension.
Digging a Flood Canal
A second option option is to dig a canal running away from your garden. There are dozens of “how to” videos posted online revealing different ways to create such canals.
Basically, it involves digging a trench that gets lower and lower the farther away it is. When water lands in your garden, gravity will pull it down through the canal and away from your garden.
It’s important to note, however, that you’ll need to fill your canal with some type of substrate to prevent it from eroding away. Gravel or similar small-sized pebbles should suffice for most situations.
Create a Raised Garden
A third option is to create a raised garden. As the name suggests, this involves raising your garden to a higher level. As long as its higher than the surrounding landscape – even by just a couple of inches – it should be protected against flooding rainwater.
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If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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