Why is weather important to know?
Just like anything in life, knowledge is worth more than anything. Going through life blissfully ignorant is useless and if you plan to partake in different things, you should educate yourself in that field or topic. So, why is weather important to understand? Because very simply, there isn’t anything in our world that isn’t affected by it…nothing. So, if nothing else, learn the basics.
Rain and/or watering:
The amount of moisture your plant material has is important to its general health. What do you do when you’re thirsty? You drink something, right? So of course, anything in life that’s thirsty needs water. The question is, “how much?” That is dependent on the plant and conditions. When you plant a tree or shrub, or even grass seed, you should read the label as it will tell you exactly how much water you should apply and how often. It’s not rocket science. And you can help yourself out greatly by following the label as to where to plant, whether full sun, shade or in the middle. If a plant requires a lot of water or “wet feet” and you plant in a very dry area, it will die, and the same goes for planting something like a cactus that likes dry conditions in a swamp…got it? Therefore, if it rains a lot, DO NOT water until it dries out a bit. If you’re in a drought, as we were this fall in NJ and Eastern PA, water as best you can, following all local watering rules.
Is snow good or bad for my plants?
That’s an interesting question…snow has its pros and cons just like many things in life. If you have a snowy winter, that snow will gradually melt throughout the winter and gently water your plants as well as insulate the roots from getting too cold or freezing. The problem with that though, is the fact that if there is a lot of melting and freezing, the ice at the base can be bad, causing disease and lack of plant respiration. This over a long period can most certainly be adverse! Also, if there’s a lot of snow for an extended period of time, rodents such as mice and voles will chomp on the roots of your shrubs, ultimately killing them over time. One last thing…if there’s a lot of heavy snow, gently clean it off the limbs and branches so they don’t break or snap but be gentle!
Is wind a bad thing for plants?
In my opinion, wind only has one good attribute and that it drying things out after a long rain or if you have a lot of dew in the morning. Otherwise, wind is a detriment. It is damaging to plants, breaking limbs, causing trees with poor root systems to fall, over-drying your plants or lawns out etc. I don’t know what else to tell you. Yes it will tend to cool us down, but we are not what’s in question here, it’s about our plants. Personally being in this business, wind scares me as I’m always very aware of the trees possibly falling.
A helpful tip…
If flooding has occurred on your properties, there are certain things you should do for your plants. Check those root systems to see if the water has washed the soil away from them. You’ll need to replace it. Also, if you were flooded with salt water, you’ll need to apply gypsum after it drains away to counteract the salinity. If you don’t, the salt will adversely affect your plants and lawn. One final thing about floods, and I know this from experience, unwanted weed seed will undoubtedly inhabit your property and that will have to be dealt with over time.
The long and the short of this was to get you to recognize that weather is so important to everything, and in this case, your plants and grass. Mother Nature doesn’t discriminate where she will strike, so be prepared and ready to deal with the after affects.
*** Plant Health Organics is a 100% Organic land care company serving Central NJ and Bucks County PA. We are PROUD of the work we do and know full well that what we do is BEST for you and our world. Contact us at 908-335-0553.***
-Joe Gentile, Owner Plant Health Organics, LLC
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