Here's from Olle Garden Bed How To Revitalize The Vegetable Garden After The Big Storm
When the storm is over, your garden often bears the brunt. The next morning, it may be very frustrating to watch the scenery and see that the love for months or even years seems to have been washed away. You may find broken branches, worn leaves and flat stems - it feels like a disaster. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
However, please try to keep an open mind on how to restore the vegetable garden. Remember that nature is a great healer. Storms have been happening for thousands of years, and plants are resilient - they have to be. As far back as prehistoric times, when mammoths trampled on them, plants had learned to adapt to adversity.
Here are some ways you can recover your garden after a storm.
Assess damage
First, walk around the garden to determine the extent of the damage and what needs to be done. Some things take precedence over others. Rakes can wait, but uprooted plants need to be put back in place before exposed roots dry.
Lifting and leveling plant
When you check for damage, look for any plants that have been crushed by heavy rain or hail. These can often be brought back into place and saved, although they may need support for the rest of the growing season. Gently wash any dirt or soil on the leaves to avoid leaf disease.
Repair the broken stem
The following is the method to repair the broken plant stem: make a clean cut under the broken stem so that there is no serrated edge. If there are buds or leaf nodes, cut back the swollen area that once attached to the leaf to within a quarter inch above it. Many plants will grow new growth from the rest of the stem.
Check the broken leaves
Large leaves, such as rhubarb, kale and kale, are most vulnerable to storms. If they are damaged or turn yellow or brown, remove them with a trimmer. Otherwise, let them maintain the state required for photosynthesis.
Cover exposed roots
Wind and rain sometimes expose the roots of plants, which dry quickly in the sun. Cover any exposed roots with topsoil and add a layer of mulch to prevent fresh soil from being eroded.
Dump excess water
Flower pots, dishes, trolleys and other objects around the yard will collect rainwater and invite mosquitoes, so please dump any accumulated water. In addition, inspect the gutter spout and remove any leaves or debris that block the outlet.
Weeding as much as possible
After the storm, the soil is wet, and then weeds can be easily pulled out. With less competition, the remaining plants can perform better. However, if the soil is mushy or muddy due to too much rain, please wait - then you can walk on it to destroy the soil structure. If you need to enter the garden when the soil is still muddy, place a board and walk on it to distribute the weight.
Aeration drying soil
Once the garden dries up, powdery soil (more common in places where the soil is over cultivated) usually forms an impenetrable glaze barrier after heavy rain. Use forks to break the aircraft. In the long run, compost and chopped leaves are used to improve the soil to restore its health.
Replace the cover
Storms may replace mulch on slopes or near outfalls. Bark chips are particularly easy to float on rivers. Replace the covering where necessary and reinforce where it looks thin. Use straw, leaves, garden trims, and other organic materials to surround plants. It can keep moisture, accumulate soil slowly over time, and prevent downpours from eroding your valuable garden soil.
Remove damaged plants
It was a difficult decision, but sometimes the answer to the question of how to restore the garden after a storm is to remove the plants. This is certainly the case if the plant is broken at the bottom, but it may also be the case if most of the leaves are severely damaged. Dig out the plants and roots, and be careful not to damage the surrounding plants and roots.
Replant if necessary
Review the calendar and determine if there is time for alternative plants. Fortunately, you will have many options for replanting early in the gardening season. If you are closer to the autumn and frost dates, do some research on vegetables or annuals that can withstand cool weather – there are many options for rapid growth that may still work.
Apply fertilizer if necessary
Defer fertilization for a few weeks to see if the plants can react on their own. After that, you can apply the fertilizer gently and apply the water-soluble fertilizer at half the intensity.
Incoming help
Don't be afraid to ask for help after the storm, especially in terms of safety. Be sure to stay away from any fallen power cord and call the power company for repair. In addition, don't try to deal with any big branches hanging from trees (they are called widow makers for a reason), unless you have experience in dealing with fallen trees and branches. It is better to call trees for service rather than being injured by falling branches.
Although your garden may feel like the cause of failure after a big storm, following these steps can help you mitigate any damage and let your vegetables thrive for the rest of the season.