Growing Green

By Robin Trott, Extension Educator

The summer of 2025 has been a wild ride—from unseasonal cold snaps to blistering heat and powerful storms. If your yard took a hit, don’t worry. Here’s a simple, safe plan to get your garden back on track.

1. Start with Safety Check for downed power lines, broken branches, or unstable trees. Snap photos for insurance and leave major tree work to the professionals.

2. Tackle Tree Trouble. Trim small limbs, and if a partially uprooted tree is still upright, staking may help it recover. Fallen trees can sometimes be repurposed as firewood, mulch or wildlife habitat.

3. Fix Drainage Fast. Heavy rains can saturate soil and suffocate roots. Redirect standing water with shovels or hoses and avoid walking on wet soil to prevent compaction.

4. Assess Plant Health. Shredded leaves and snapped stems might look alarming, but many plants bounce back with a quick pruning. Root veggies may still be thriving underground even if their tops look tough.

5. Stake and Support. Straighten toppled flowers, young trees and vining vegetables with soft ties or cages. A little backup goes a long way.

6. Rethink Your Mulch. Storms often scatter mulch and expose roots. Rake it back or add fresh layers—straw, bark or wood chips help protect soil and prevent erosion.

7. Compost the Cleanup. Collect healthy debris for composting. If you spot signs of pests or disease, play it safe and toss it instead.

8. Watch for Delayed Damage. Not all storm stress shows up right away. Keep an eye out over the next few days for wilting, bark cracks or unusual growth changes.

9. Grow Smarter Next Season. Take note of what withstood the storm. Use that insight when choosing hardier varieties, improving staking or adding windbreaks.

10. Be Kind to Yourself. Garden recovery takes time. Focus on what you can do and lean on local resources for advice and encouragement.

Gardens are resilient—and so are gardeners. With a little care and know-how, storm damage can be the first step toward a stronger, smarter growing season ahead.

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“Nature makes no noise. The howling storm, the rustling leaf, the pattering rain are no disturbance, there is an essential and unexplored harmony in them.”  ~Henry David Thoreau