Gardening with La Nina

If any lesson is to be learnt from these three La Nina events, it would be to ensure the drainage in your garden beds is optimized prior to planting out.

Why do plants not survive water logged soils?

When the soil is so saturated there is no room for oxygen within the soil therefore the plant roots don’t have access to oxygen which causes them to literally drown.

Signs of plants stressed from water logging

• Outer growth looks wilted even though soil is moist
• General yellow or discoloration of leaves
• Dieback in patches or tips
• Fungal diseases such as rust obvious on foliage

Measures to help you deal with water logged soil

Short term tips

• Try not to walk in your garden beds when the soils are sodden as your foot steps will cause compaction in the soil.
• If plants are young and/or not established, lift out of soil relocate to a dryer area or pot up into pots
• Try to aerate the soil around their root bases by using a garden fork.
• Carve out some water channels for water to flow away from the roots of the plant to a lower level.
• Gently push a shovel underneath the central root ball. Slowly and only slightly lever the plant upwards – this only needs to be a few centimetres.
• If it’s a plant that will cope with transplant - lift and relocate.

Long term tips

• Watch the drainage patterns in your garden during these times of heavy rain.
• Redirect surface water flow away from garden beds with pit drains, underground pipe lines, dish drains, swales and contour banks wherever possible.
• Select plant species that can cope with some water logging in these drainage areas.
• Ensure there are no bare soil earth areas within the garden - plant coverage including lawns will help slow runoff and prevent erosion.
• Ensure all garden areas are mulched. Mulch will help prevent the topsoil from washing away.

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• Topics:

• Gardening