Many parts of the country are plagued by a lack of rain, but in other areas, rainy spells leave plants treading water to stay alive. Follow these rainy spell tips to help your plants and flowers thrive in the damp weather:

• Provide Good Drainage. One of the most important gardening mantras next to "add compost" is "provide good drainage." Most plants suffer in soggy, wet soils, especially if that condition is combined with heat. Even plants we associate with moist soil, such as azaleas and hydrangeas, fail to thrive with waterlogged roots. Planting in raised beds can provide the drainage plants need. You can always add water, but you can't take it away.
• Control Fungal Diseases. Choose plants adapted to your area and that have excellent disease resistance. Prepare soil properly before planting, paying attention to watering and fertilizing. However, in spite of your best care, rainy spells can be too much for plants, as leaf spots appear and squash fruit rot.
• Control Powdery Mildew. The fungus powdery mildew loves warm, humid conditions. University research has shown that both sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and potassium bicarbonate are quite effective as sprays against mildew and certain other diseases. Some new, labeled products based on these ingredients are now available. Other low-toxicity options based on natural and elemental ingredients are appearing on the market to help control diseases with minimal damage to the environment.
• Give Plants Some Space. Crowding plants reduces air circulation, which means that foliage stays wet longer. Proper spacing of plants such as 'Longwood Blue' bluebeard (Caryopteris X clandonensis 'Longwood Blue') can mean the difference between a major disease problem and a minor one.
• Don't Water Too Frequently. A lot of watering also keeps foliage wet more of the time and increases the likelihood of disease problems. Whenever possible, avoid wetting foliage at all. Install drip irrigation in several areas and you will notice a reduction in foliage diseases and some savings on summer water bills too.