May is over. Can you feel the change in the weather? A very dry and warm end to spring is leading into a much more familiar rain pattern for this summer as we shift from La Nina to El Nino. With these weather patterns, there are some gardening tips that can bring you success in both June and throughout the rest of the year.
El Nino and the garden
Without getting into a lot of meteorological details, El Nino means cooler temperatures and wetter weather. After the extraordinary drought we have been experiencing, these rains will be welcome in most lawns and gardens, but they can bring about some issues. Increased moisture in the garden can lead to more disease, soil erosion, and leaching of fertilizers. To account for these problems, you should:
With an understanding that we are going to likely have a wet summer, a little bit of planning, preparation, and research can help you still have a thriving garden all season long.
Hurricanes and the garden
One major benefit of El Niño is typically a milder tropical storm season. Most models are predicting a less-than-normal number of tropical storms and hurricanes for this season, but do not let that prognosis catch you off guard. Both Hurricane Andrew and Hurricane Michael affected Florida during El Niño years.
To get your garden hurricane-ready, the key is to reduce risks before an event occurs rather than waiting until the last minute. Take care of any tree issues with preventative pruning or removal of diseased or decaying trees now. If you need more information on tree care or a risk assessment, you should contact an ISA-certified arborist for advice. To find one near you, visit www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist. If you are doing pruning yourself, be sure not to block storm drains or the road with your debris, especially if there is an impending storm, as that waste can cause flooding or slow emergency response.
Still in a drought
While recent rains seem plentiful, remember we are still in an exceptional drought for most of our region. Make sure you are still following watering restrictions, especially since you probably don’t need irrigation when it’s been raining. Also, keep an eye out for notices from your local Water Management District, Forestry Service, and Emergency Management to see when restrictions on water may change or when burn bans are lifted.
If you have any gardening questions, reach out to your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office or contact me at whhobbs@ufl.edu or (904)284-6355. Here’s to a smart summer in the garden!
Things to plant in the garden in June
Wayne Hobbs is an extension agent in environmental horticulture for Clay County.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: How to prepare your garden for a wet El Nino summer
Reporting by Wayne Hobbs, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Wayne Hobbs, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
