You may be doing a happy dance if your garden has been blessed with rainfall in this bakingly gorgeous Summer but don’t put away the watering can just yet! Unless your garden has had heavy and prolonged rainfall, the water may not be reaching the roots of your plants and they will still need your help in order to thrive.
The large leaves on some plants can act as an umbrella and the raindrops will simply glide off. If the water is gliding off into your border then either the plant roots or those of some other plant will be benefit from it but if the rain is sliding off onto a path, patio or deck, then the plant roots are gaining little.
Another area to check is plants situated near or underneath trees where the tree will act as an umbrella and the plant will gain little moisture from the rainfall.
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This Azalea is planted between two trees which prevent the rain reaching it unless it is heavy and prolonged.
The lesson here is just to have a quick check around the base of large leaves plants, those in the shadow of trees and in pots with overhanging foliage to make sure that even after rainfall, the soil isn’t dry and if it is, it will still need a good soak.
The Pink Wheelbarrow 
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