Hail and High Water
This spring and summer have been especially difficult for farmers and gardeners in the Northeast due to the inordinate amount of water received, mainly in the form of rain. Several storms have brought heavy downpours with hail. At Garden in the Woods of Framingham, MA, one particularly damaging hail storm roared through just after the July 4th Holiday, bringing some destruction to the gardens. The main damage was to larger-leafed plants. Native plants, which are used to New England weather, began to revive as soon as the storm moved on.
Viewer Tip: Save money and create more sustainable gardens by using native plant species in your yard. Native plants have existed in your microclimate for hundreds of years and are used to the changes and challenges from weather in your area. After a heavy rain or hail storm, check your plants for damage. Remove the most damaged leaves from your plants to help them recover more quickly.
This information is provided by the New England Wild Flower Society. For a list of native plants to grow under shady to sunny conditions, visit http://www.newenglandwild.org/grow/growing-conditions-native-plants.html.
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
