Wow! Heavy rain in early summer with no wind! We had been in a drought and needed water to replenish the aquifer, but the plants prefer not to get it all at once. Many of the roots don't like to be submerged in water. Heavy rain saturates the soil and causes water to pool in places causing the plants to be waterlogged for days. Adding soil and root stimulants like mycorrhizal fungi, beneficial bacteria, and rooting hormones can help these plants recover. Usually when we think of fungi and bacteria, we don't conjure up good images. But these can all be drivers of healthy root development.
Roots absorb and supply the plant with the minerals and water it needs from the soil. They can also store food and even regenerate new plants through vegetative propagation. Roots are a very important part of a plant. Roots are the part of the plant that grows downwards and branches out, forming a root system that anchors the plant to the soil as well as providing nutrients to the soil. Water and nutrient absorption is done by tiny, thin-walled root hairs that line the taproot. Root hairs are extensions of individual root cells that penetrate the soil to absorb water and minerals. Loss of root hairs due to transplanting or rotting due to too much moisture can stress the plant, causing it to stop growing and possibly even die. When root loss or damage occurs, the plant will attempt to grow back to its previous size and generate new roots to balance the growth of the root system and aboveground parts.
Mycorrhizal fungi are a great aid to recovery by living on the fine roots of plants. These fungi feed on the plant's sugars and grow hyphae in return. These are the fungal fingers that act as feeding tubes and expand the root surface area for better water and nutrient absorption. They're like roots on steroids. This helps the plant better tolerate stresses caused by poor soil conditions, such as salt buildup after a hurricane, drought, or flood rot.
In water-saturated soil after flooding, certain bacteria help reduce pathogens that cause root disease and promote root growth. When root systems are torn and damaged, they become more susceptible to disease.
There are many products on the market that contain these beneficial ingredients. Look for mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial bacteria on the label. These products produce stronger root systems that absorb and use nutrients and water more efficiently. After a hurricane or rainstorm, spread soil and fertilizer over uprooted or waterlogged areas. Instead of removing uprooted plants after a storm, ram a hose into the soil around the roots to fill in the air gap and pour beneficial fertilizer and soil over the damaged roots, allowing them to heal the weakened root system. Farmers are adding fertilizer to their compost to improve crop productivity and health.
May and June are considered good times to fertilize, but it is best not to fertilize when heavy rains are expected. The fertilizer will wash away through the sand or, even worse, if applied before heavy rains, will run off and directly contribute to the pollution of the Gulf of Mexico. It is important to give your plants plenty of nutrients before the heat of summer arrives. Stressed plants need these nutrients to recover.
Root damage doesn't appear overnight. It takes time for damaged roots to become diseased and die. Plants may begin to decline and die months or even years after a flood, hurricane, or other stressor has passed. If you're not sure why your plants are declining, it could be underlying root damage from being left in a flooded spot for a few days, or seemingly minor uprooting damage from a passing storm. Give fungi and bacteria a try. You may be able to save these plants and see them thrive again in your garden.
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Peter and Eileen Ward have sold Greensward of Marco after 40 years in the lawn and landscaping business on Marco Island. If you have comments or questions about Eileen's column, please email her at Gswdmarco@comcast.net or call her at 239-269-0192.
