It’s official. June, 2015 is in the books as the wettest June on record for Illinois. The State Climatologist Office for Illinois says, “The statewide average precipitation for June 2015 in Illinois was 9.53 inches. That is 5.33 inches above the average June precipitation, and the wettest June on record for Illinois.” You may have noticed how this record rain is affecting the annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees in your Naperville outdoor living space. We’ve seen an increase in fungal diseases, rotting of annuals and overall stress on many plants. While we might lose a few plants that are more susceptible to disease, most hardy plants will survive.

Most annuals and many perennials do best when exposed to roughly an equal mix of sun and rain. Too much rain can cause water to build up in the soil under the plants, which deprive it of oxygen. Plants may begin to wilt or leaves may turn yellow. And, too much rain, not enough sun, and the cool weather we’ve had in June make it difficult for annuals to get established.

Trees and shrubs can be affected by excessive rain, as well. Some silver maple and sugar maple trees seem to be showing their autumn colors prematurely, due to bladder gall mite problems. Crabapple trees may be experiencing apple scab, aphids or cedar-apple rust. These are two examples of complications resulting from wet, cool weather conditions. We’ll talk more about these two conditions in upcoming blog posts.

It’s too early in the season to declare a loss for most of our affected plants, shrubs and trees. To help the plants along, take care to remove dead foliage around the plant and make sure they have adequate air flow. Good drainage is very important. Adequate drainage will help remove excess water from around plant root systems, and allow good growth conditions. With a little more sun and a little less rain, we should begin to see our gardens recover nicely.

For over 45 years, O’Donovan and Sons Landscaping has been designing, installing and maintaining residential landscapes in Naperville and surrounding areas. We have a large selection of plants, trees and shrubs in our nursery. We will help you design and install your outdoor living space. Contact O’Donovan Landscaping at 630-355-3370 to schedule an appointment!