When it is too wet to work the beds, the garden still has plenty for you to do. Clean and sharpen your tools, sort your seeds, sketch next season’s beds, check your drainage and pull a few weeds from the soft soil between showers.
Rainy Day Garden Guide: Rainy days don’t have to stop your gardening rhythm. Sure, you might not be digging in the beds, but there’s still plenty to do that sets you up for success once the sun returns. Here are ten productive ways to keep your hands and mind in the garden when the weather says otherwise.
1. Clean and Sharpen Your Tools
Rainy days are perfect for garden maintenance. Scrub off caked-on soil, check handles, and tighten screws. If rust has crept in, soak your tools in white vinegar to loosen it — I did this week, and they came out looking almost new. Once clean, dry them thoroughly and rub a little oil on the metal to keep them ready for the next dry day. I recently did mine check out the results below!
2. Sort and Store Seeds
Pull out that seed box or jar and give it a little attention. Check expiration dates, organize by planting season, and make a list of what needs replenishing. Group seeds by crop type or season, and store them in labeled envelopes or jars with silica gel packs to keep moisture out.
3. Sketch Out Next Season’s Beds
Grab a notebook, sketch pad, or tablet and plan your garden layout. Rotate your crops to protect soil health, note companion plant pairings that worked well, and make room for something new you want to try. If you keep a record, look back at what performed best this year.
4. Step Out Between Showers
If the rain lets up, take advantage of the soft ground. Weeds come up easily when the soil is saturated, so even ten minutes of pulling makes a big difference. Just be mindful to stay off the garden beds themselves — stick to paths or edges to avoid compacting wet soil.
5. Check Drainage and Gutters
A downpour is the perfect time to notice where water collects. Watch for pooling in garden beds or around structures, and jot down any problem spots. Cleaning gutters or improving drainage now can save plants and soil later.
6. Top Off Mulch
If the forecast gives you a break in the drizzle, add a layer of mulch around perennials and shrubs. It’ll help lock in moisture, regulate soil temperature, and keep weeds down. Rain helps settle new mulch right into place.
7. Feed the Soil
Rain helps nutrients soak deep into the ground. If you use organic fertilizer, compost, or soil amendments, scatter them before the next shower. The rain will naturally wash them down to the root zone.
8. Clean Up Pots and Containers
Gather up your empty pots, planters, and trays. Scrub off dirt, rinse, and let them dry before stacking. This small task makes planting season so much smoother — plus, you’ll rediscover a few containers you forgot you had.
9. Take Inventory of Supplies
Go through your shed or the corner of your garden. Check potting soil, gloves, twine, labels, fertilizers, and irrigation supplies. Toss what’s worn out and make a short shopping list so you’re ready when planting season rolls back around.
10. Sort Your Garden Photos and Notes
If you take pictures throughout the season, now’s the time to organize them. Label them by date or plant type — they’ll help you remember what worked, what bloomed when, and where that perfect color combination happened.
Final Thought
Rainy days aren’t lost gardening days — they’re preparation days. Use this rainy day garden guide and add your own too! A little cleaning, planning, and organizing now means you’ll be ready to dig in the moment the sun comes back out.
Rainy day garden questions we get asked
How do you get rust off garden tools?
Soak rusty tools in white vinegar to loosen the rust, then scrub, dry them thoroughly and rub a little oil on the metal.
Is it okay to weed when the soil is wet?
Yes. Soggy soil lets weeds slide right out, so even ten minutes helps. Stay on the paths and edges so you do not compact the wet beds.
How should I store leftover seeds?
Check the dates, group them by crop or season, and store them in labeled envelopes or jars with a silica gel packet to keep moisture out.
Wondering what to do next in the garden? Our Garden by the Season guide walks through what to plant and what to do each season, timed from your own frost dates.
You might also enjoy Gather Today, Bloom Tomorrow: A Simple Guide to Saving Seeds and Resting the Soil, Resting Ourselves: A Fall Cover Crop Guide.
Written by
Lane and Jules Morris
Authors and University of Tennessee faculty writing from our farm in East Tennessee about gardening, the farm kitchen, faith and designing a flourishing life at any age. More about us
