Symptoms of Overwatering Flower Beds
Water is good for your plants, but too much will cause those plants to die. How do you know if you are giving them too much water? By looking at your plants and the soil they grow in, you'll be able to tell. Over-watering your flower beds is the biggest cause of plant death. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Rotting Roots
-
Check your plants' roots. It they are rotting, you're giving them too much water. The roots on plants need the oxygen in the dirt to survive.
-
Check the Leaves
-
If your plants' leaves turn yellow, they may have rapid or gradual defoliation. By looking at the leaves, you can tell if they're receiving too much water.
Check the Plant Growth
-
Another sign of over-watering is if your plants suddenly stop growing, or if they're wilting or drooping.
Check for Mold and Disease
-
Over-watered soil will have fuzzy gray mold growing on top. There may be mold growing on the stems, leaves or flowers of the plants.
Some plants when they receive too much water become more susceptible to disease and are less tolerant of insect feeding.
Check the Stems
-
The stems will be soft and mushy to the touch. They may have a dark green appearance instead of their normal color.
Check the Soil
-
Look at the soil at a deeper level. The top soil may be dry, but when you dig down below the surface, see if the soil is wet. If the soil is soggy or muddy, then the plants have had too much water for proper growth.
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of David Ohmer