How To Save Plants From Heavy Rain

It’s no secret that rain is great for plants, but only in small doses. Heavy rain is nice at first, but it can quickly take a toll on your lawn and garden that can be hard to recover from. Many homeowners understandably struggle with how to save plants from heavy rain.

You can save plants from heavy rain if you avoid watering them for a few days afterward while the soil is still soggy. You can lay fabric, tarps, and netting over plants before a heavy rain to protect them. Seaweed extract can help plants recover and become perky again after heavy rain.

Move your potted plants indoors or under a porch or covered patio when it is raining hard to protect them. Heavy rain can lead to root erosion that can kill your plants. Follow along as we explore how to save plants from heavy rain.

Heavy rain can damage plants. Excessive water can wash away the soil and mulch surrounding your plants and their root systems. The rain can also wash away the nutrients within the soil that are necessary for healthy plant growth.

A plant’s roots can also suffer from erosion if they are soaked with water for too long. The root system is the most important part of a plant’s growth. That’s why plants typically need plenty of time in the sun to dry out after heavy rain.

Overly soggy soil can overwhelm a plant even after the heavy rain stops. It can take over a week for soggy soil to dry out in some cases depending on your watering schedule and how much rainfall you got.

Your plants will recover from heavy rain, but it takes some time. In some cases, your plants will bounce back after just 3-4 days. However, it may take up to 7 days for your plants to become perky again.

Soil can stay soggy for days, and it takes a while for the roots to absorb all of the water. The plants will eventually absorb the water reserve. Touch the soil with your hand to check if it is still soggy several days to a week following heavy rain.

Avoid watering your plants after heavy rain if the soil still feels moist. This will make it take longer for your plants to become perky again, and it could cause serious root damage. You can also strip the soil and mulch in your yard of vital nutrients if you water your plants when the soil is already soggy.

The best way to help plants recover from heavy rain is to remove weak, flattened, and damaged leaves or branches. This is only necessary if the leaves or branches are broken and barely hanging on. Plants are more prone to growth if you prune damaged and dead parts, as the water will more easily go where it’s needed.

It helps to treat your plants and the soil with seaweed extract within a few days to a week of heavy rain. Seaweed extract helps fortify plants so they recover from trauma, such as over-watering, under-watering, and trampling. This method is especially helpful for fruit, such as strawberries.

It’s also important to check the soil to see just how soggy it is after a heavy rain. The top layer of soil may appear dry after a day or two, but it could still be quite soggy deeper down. Use a stick to check for moisture beneath the surface of the soil so you don’t over-water your plants, even if the top layer is dry.

You can protect potted plants from too much rain if you temporarily bring them inside. It also helps to store your potted plants on a covered patio or porch before it rains. Otherwise, you can leave your potted plants outside and cover them with something like plastic so they don’t become over-saturated.

Remove the plastic covering when it’s done raining, as the covering can prevent the plant from getting adequate sunlight. Potted plants with heavy, extensive root systems are likely to withstand heavy rain without suffering much damage.

However, it’s worth moving or covering them before a heavy rain so the soil doesn’t become too soggy and the nutrients don’t wash away.

The average plant only requires 1” of rain per week. Depending on the climate and time of year, your plants may not get an inch of rain each week, so you will need to supplement it. That’s why it’s important to keep track of how much rain you get so you can plan a watering schedule accordingly.

The average homeowner has to water their plants 3 times per week or more if the soil becomes dry. You may need to water your plants every day if it doesn’t rain often where you live. Check the top layer of soil with your hand to see if it is dry.

Check deeper into the soil with a stick or gardening tool to see if it’s moist to make sure you don’t over-water your plants. Make sure to water your plants more often if you get ½” of rain or less per week.

More than 2-3 days of heavy rain in a row is often too much for fertilizer. Excessive water can make the fertilizer loosen, weaken, and even wash away. Nutrients within the fertilizer can also wash away, depending on how much it rains.

However, this is typically more of a problem if you just recently applied the fertilizer to your lawn or garden. That is why professional lawn and garden services don’t recommend putting in fertilizer if it’s supposed to rain within the next few days. Check the forecast and make sure it won’t rain for 24-48 hours after you lay fertilizer.

Strong winds can be bad for plants in some cases, and it can damage leaves and stalks. Depending on the wind speed and the condition of the plant, the wind may snap the stalk. Severe wind can also scatter loose soil and mulch when it is dry.

It helps to tether plants with long stalks to a stake to protect them from strong winds. This will prevent the stems and stalks from snapping, but it’s not necessary for every plant. Make sure to water your plants when the wind dies out, as strong winds can dry out the soil.

Assess the damage after heavy winds. Carefully remove damaged leaves, branches, and stems so they won’t hinder the growth of your plants. Plants that are behind or close to heavy shrubs are less likely to suffer severe wind damage, so keep that in mind when you plan your garden. Farmers sometimes cover their crops with large strips of fabric or netting to protect them from strong winds.

You can save plants from heavy rain if you cover them with fabric, netting, or fabric. Otherwise, you can simply prune damaged leaves, stems, and stalks after heavy rain. Avoid watering your plants for a few days after heavy rain, as the soil will likely be soaked with excess water.

Move your potted plants indoors or under cover during heavy rain to protect them. You only need to water your plants 3 times per week if you get an inch of rain each week. Use seaweed extract to help your plants recover after heavy rain.