Rain

Heavy rain can leave a vegetable garden looking battered, but there is usually no need to rush in and start repairing everything as soon as the rain stops. The first job is to let the garden drain. The second is to inspect what happened. The third is to repair damage without making the soil problem…

Heavy rain can be good for a vegetable garden—until too much water arrives too quickly. A slow, soaking rain can replenish soil moisture, wash dust from leaves, and reduce the need for irrigation. A downpour is different. When several inches of rain fall in a short time, water can run across the soil rather than…