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THINGS TO DO IN THE RAINY SEASON Now that the rains have arrived and there's little need to water your garden, you should have time to do some other things. With some you'll be taking advantage of the moisture while other chores may be needed because of the wetter weather. This is a great time to plant trees, shrubs, or most kinds of perennials. Unlike spring with the high winds, hot temperatures, and dry weather, the temperatures are now fairly cool, the ground is staying moist and the drying winds have subsided. The conditions for getting plants established are much easier to cope with. Plant roots will have a long period of time to get established, even after an early frost they'll continue to develop. Next spring, the plants will take off with vigorous growth because they've had an opportunity to get well established. An added bonus is that many nurseries have trees, shrubs, and perennials on sale right now. A few perennials are best left for spring planting. Check with your nursery professional for advice on specific varieties.
There's still time to plant many varieties of grass from seed, particularly cool season grasses. They tend to do their best growing during the cooler months. With the rains you won't need to do much watering at all. Warm season grasses may not have enough time to get established before cool fall weather sets in. It's best to wait until next season to plant them.
Rains that come hard and fast are notorious for causing problems with erosion. Check to see if you have any little gullies starting. If you do, take measures now to prevent further damage. Create small berms across the contour line where these gullies are forming. They will slow the water down and the gully will begin to fill with silt during the next rainfall.
This is a banner year for weeds. Make it a point to identify weeds and get rid of them before they go to seed. Some weeds are best controlled by pulling them out while others can be controlled by mowing.
Take a few moments to sit and enjoy your garden. Read a book, invite a friend for tea, or sit and watch the birds. After all, you've worked hard to create a spot of beauty.
Lastly, give thanks for the wonderful rains. If you have any doubts about the volume we're getting think back to June when it was so dry and hot that it was difficult to keep plants alive.
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Plant a Tree or Shrub