What to do about all of the wet weather...
A little rain and we are happy not to have to water; big down pours again and again, and plants can really start to suffer. The main trouble with soggy soil is that plants' roots become starved for oxygen, which gets displaced in the dirt by all that moisture. Plants require oxygen in the soil to facilitate healthy root functioning, and also to promote the health of the aerobic micro-organisms that support root and plant functions. As soil moisture lingers, so increases the potential for trouble. Poorly oxygenated, wet soil leads to root rot and generally weak plants; fungal diseases are particularly common during drenched conditions (both in the roots and on the leaves & stems). Unfortunately this is something many gardeners are now reporting.