Had enough rain yet? We have!   March is ending with 214% of normal rain following February which was 140%. Those drought fears we heard about in January are all but a distant memory. http://www.kgw.com/March-is-3rd-wettest-on-record

 

Although it is nice to put the drought fears away, the excessive rain is making our landscape maintenance activities a bit difficult. As the weather has warmed up, the grass is growing and we are trying to mow between the rain so as to not cause damage. Although we do not always avoid the damage as shown above, we do monitor site conditions and the weather to mow when the best conditions exist.  We work very diligently to train our staff to make the right judgment call on site each day. This has been a challenge as there have only been 9 days this month without rain.

As the weather improves and the grass grows faster, the potential for damage subsides for lawn areas. However, poorly draining areas and those with heavy shade can stay soggy throughout much of the year. In these areas, drainage or tree pruning may be necessary.

The good news is that as spring unfolds, conditions normally improve. Before we know it, the weather will warm up and the rain will subside. It may only be a few short months before we begin talking about irrigation and fighting dry spots.

 

Long Range Spring Weather Forecast: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/NRD/docs/dlongrange.pdf