After weeks of low rainfall, residents in the South East of England are expected to wake up to wet weather on Wednesday morning. Outbreaks of rain are anticipated to move from London towards Manchester by the afternoon, with more unsettled weather and thunderstorms forecast for later in the week.
While gardens may be in desperate need of water, Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), has shared tips on preparing gardens to absorb sudden storms.
Clear Gutters and Loosen Soil
Start by ensuring all water butts, pipes, and gutters are clear and ready to accept whatever may come. Next, attention should turn to the soil, which after weeks of drought will have become dusty, compacted, and water repellent.
Barter advises loosening compacted soil with a fork or spade to help it better absorb water. However, this does not apply to clay soils, which should be left alone. “Clay soils develop alarming cracks in dry weather,” he explains. “In effect they are, rather conveniently, digging themselves. Don’t attempt to fill in cracks with sand or soil. Excess rain here just runs into the cracks and is gone. The soil then swells, and the cracks disappear until the next period.”
Mulch and Watering Tips
Apply coarse mulch such as bark and woodchips to bare soil to aid in the soaking process, but leave areas around trees and plants as they are, so water can go straight to the roots. The plants do not need additional help, as foliage will collect rain, which gets channelled down the trunk or stem and into the roots.
According to Barter, it is best to suspend watering until the storms have passed, because wet soil has no room to accommodate more water. “With luck the rain will be enough to limit the need to resume watering, but in truth several wet days will be needed to do that,” he says.
Avoid Mowing Grass
Barter claims that mowing long, dried grass would be a mistake. “Taller grass is good at stopping water run-off, and immobile water can overcome the water-repellent properties of turf in time,” he explains. He also advises against cutting back perennials before it rains and suggests leaving spent vegetable plants alone to help protect the soil and wildlife.
