Weather Tidbits: Excessive Rainfall & Root Rot

In this edition of Weather Tidbits, we are going to be discussing excessive rainfall and its potential effects on a plant’s root system. Rainfall is obviously important for plants and trees. However, too much rainfall can actually do harm to the root system. This is specifically if there is excessive rainfall for multiple days in a row. There needs to be a balance between wet weather and dry weather. Oversaturated soils can damage root systems and cause root rot, which can unfortunately be deadly for plants, including shrubs and trees. The oversaturation makes it difficult for the roots to get air, which leads to their decay. Effects can happen weeks later. Visible damage can include discolored leaves and branch dieback. Protecting the roots beforehand can help, so call a professional arborist for inspection and/or advice.