Save your plants from drowning
25.5.2019
Translation: machine translated
My plants were almost burnt in April and now I'm afraid they'll be washed off the balcony. What can be done about the persistent wetness?
Full of hope, I open the shutters in the morning. After a few seconds, small drops of water form on the window. It is raining. Again. My mood changes from hopeful to pissed off. I can't stand the constant wetness and grey days any longer!
The plants in the garden and on the balcony are no different. Waterlogging is particularly troublesome for them. It occurs when the water in the soil can no longer seep away because there is simply too much of it. The result: the plant roots start to rot. To prevent this from happening, water ditches or sloping beds help in the garden. Or you can start with the subsoil and choose a sandy soil. The water will seep away better there. As a balcony owner, you should make holes in all your pots so that the water can drain away.
But it's not just the roots that need to be protected from heavy rain, the flowers and fruit do too. The simplest method is to give them a roof over their heads. Remove it again after the deluge.
Another problem for plants is snails. They are in high season in this weather and eat their way through lettuce heads by the dozen. Copper in a defence band helps prevent this. The crawlers don't like it at all and leave immediately. They also detest certain herbs. So plant lavender or thyme around your bed and you will be spared the animals.
After the rain comes the sun
But the rain also brings good things. For example, the much-hated weeding is easier afterwards. The water softens the soil so that weeds can sometimes be pulled out without much effort. It's also a good idea to clean the patio joints the day after the heavy rain. And because the weather hopefully won't stay like this forever, it's worth looking ahead. Collect the rainwater in a barrel and use it for watering in dry periods. This is not only environmentally friendly, but also better than tap water.
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My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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