Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk, said: “Excessive rainfall can cause water logging, exposed roots and weakened plants which can all be detrimental if not taken care of right away.
“There are a few things you should be doing after the recent rainfall to help give your garden, plants and crops the best chance of surviving.
“The main thing is aerating your soil, ideally you want to wait around a day or so before doing this to allow some of the moisture to drain away.
“Doing this too soon after the rain can cause more harm than good. With a bit of extra care, your garden will be back to normal in no time.”
1. Assess the damage
Chris recommended taking a moment to check the grass, plants and pots to identify what problems there are, if any.
2. Aerate the soil
There is a high chance that heavy rainfall has left the soil soggy and waterlogged which can cause damage in the long run.
To combat this, grab a garden fork and create some holes in it to allow it to breathe again.
Chris said this is best done a day or so after heavy rainfall to allow some of the moisture to drain away.”
3. Add some mulch
The gardening pro explained: “Add a layer of mulch around your plants to help them cope with the heavy rain.
“Not only will this help to regulate the temperature of the soil, but it will also improve the overall health of your soil over time.”
4. Prepare for slugs
Slugs and snails love moist conditions so they’ll more likely be noticeable after rainfall, even in the winter months.
Consider laying down some natural deterrents like broken eggshells or coffee grounds to keep them away from precious plants.
5. Adjust water routine
Chris continued: “Your plants and grass would have had plenty of water so you’ll need to adjust your watering schedule accordingly.
“As it’s winter you will have been watering your garden less anyway, place your finger about an inch into the soil, when this feels dry give the area water.”
6. Support taller plants
Tall garden plants are likely to become more fragile after heavy rain so consider using some support to hold them upright until they regain strength.
