Weather & supports
Assess a garden after heavy rain
Observe from paths: note standing water, erosion, leaning plants and blocked accessible drains.
When to do it
Once access is safe after heavy rain.
What you need
- Notebook or photographs
- Gloves
How to do it
- Observe from paths: note standing water, erosion, leaning plants and blocked accessible drains.
- Pause irrigation where roots are already saturated. Empty ordinary pot saucers and make sure drainage holes are open.
- Avoid digging or walking on wet soil. Once it drains, check whether plants recover and whether persistent wet patches need drainage advice.
- Keep produce affected by floodwater or suspected sewage out of use pending local food-safety advice. Record the event before resetting the bed.
What success looks like
- The response matches observed drainage rather than adding more water.
Watch out for
- Treating contaminated floodwater like clean rain.
- Working saturated soil into a compacted layer.
Related help
Check where rainwater goes
Work out whether water is reaching the soil or leaving it waterlogged.
Inspect a struggling plant before treating it
Identify the plant and photograph the whole plant, affected parts and nearby healthy plants.
Sources and review
Checked 24 September 2026. Source-checked editorial guidance; not field-tested or independently reviewed by a horticulturist.