Work on weeds Weeds are thriving so pull them up before they set seed.
While re-staking or cutting back fallen border plants, remove any lurking
bindweed.
Protection policy Protect bare ground, piles of manure or open compost
heaps from downpours with heavy-duty polythene or a tarpaulin, ensuring
covers are well-anchored. Bring wormeries under cover.
Diversion tactics Water butts quickly overflow in heavy rain, so fit a
diverter that will direct excess water down the drains.
Pot rescue (1) Pots soon fill with water but you can unblock drainage
holes with a cane. Don’t allow plants in pots without drainage holes to sit
in water or they’ll die.
Pot rescue (2) “Shrubs kept in pots for many years are vulnerable if
they haven’t been repotted annually,” says Guy Barter. “The roots completely
fill the pot, leaving very little air space. If the compost gets waterlogged
you can save the plant if you act quickly: remove it from the pot, cut off
the dead roots and repot in fresh compost. A foliar feed will help too.”
Try again later Many salad crops can still be sown in July – for
example, pak choi and other oriental greens. Sow undercover in small pots
and plant out when they are big enough to cope with the wet and slugs.
Leave lawns alone Keep off the lawn as much as possible when the ground
is sodden. You can make repairs in early autumn.
Go shopping There are still plenty of bedding plants around such as
pelargoniums and verbenas, so you can easily revamp summer pots. There are
also discounts on summer furniture and barbecues – assuming you have
somewhere dry to store them.
Flood dangers
Flooding due to rivers bursting their banks, or broken drains releasing
diluted sewage into the garden, are potentially serious. Any crops covered
in flood water should not be eaten. When clearing up, cover any cuts with
waterproof plasters and wear rubber gloves and wellies. For more advice, see
the Health Protection Agency website (hpa.org.uk). Damage to garden
outbuildings, but not plants or containers, is usually covered by insurance,
but check your policy.
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