The Old Farmers’ Almanac Warns ‘Young Plants Could Struggle’ With Dry Conditions This Spring – Here’s How to Prep Your Yard

Spring is right around the corner and according to experts at the Old Farmers' Almanac, we can expect 'warmer-than-normal temperatures across much of the United States.' While this is good news for getting a head start on your spring gardening checklist, the trusted source of long-range weather forecasts warns many regions of the country will experience 'drier-than-normal conditions' this spring.

It calls for urgent action from gardeners to adjust watering, watch out for heat stress, and put precautions in place to protect seedlings from dehydration.

The Old Farmers' Almanac spring forecast 2026 notes there are some exceptions where certain regions will experience heavy rainfall, requiring yards to have good drainage. Here, we run through what to expect wherever you're located, and what to do to to keep your yard in good shape this spring.

Support Plants in Warm Temperatures and Dry Conditions

The majority of the US is expected to have higher temperatures than normal this spring, according to the Old Farmers' Almanac spring forecast 2026.

It states the Northeast and Atlantic Corridor can expect temperatures 3°F higher than usual in May, with rainfall being below average across April and May.

Likewise it reports the Carolinas, Georgia, Missouri, eastern Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, the surrounding Great Lakes states, and The Plains are expected to have warmer-than-usual temperatures throughout spring.

With higher temperatures and less rainfall, there's a risk of plants becoming dehydrated, shriveling, and fading away.

For this reason, consider increasing watering and using a soil moisture meter (from Amazon) to monitor for soil drying out. Watering deeply is one of the best ways to keep plants hydrated.

You should also look out for signs your plants are suffering from heat stress and act accordingly. Experts at the Old Farmers' Almanac suggest, 'use mulch or compost to reduce evaporation and improve soil structure.'

Likewise increase how much you water seedlings in warmer temperatures so they stay hydrated and continue establishing a healthy root system.

A seedling water bottle (like this from Amazon) offers gentle watering, preventing damage from harsh water pressure.

Improve Drainage for Heavy Rainfall

For upper Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, the Northern Appalachians, High Plains, Upper Midwest, and Intermountain region, the Old Farmers' Almanac spring forecast 2026 predicts higher precipitation throughout April and May.

For Texas and Oklahoma in particular, there's a warning for a tropical storm in late May, so it's wise to take action to prepare your yard for a storm.

The best thing to do in these wetter conditions is improve drainage and reduce surface water run-off in your yard, maintaining good soil structure and preventing issues like root rot.

You can use an aerator tool (like this from Amazon) to aerate your lawn and might want to consider creating a rain garden to provide a natural way for your yard to cope with higher volumes of rain.

Be aware warmer temperatures and higher rainfall can create an environment for fungal diseases. The experts suggest to 'space plants well and encourage airflow to reduce disease pressure.'

If needed, you can get rid of powdery mildew using the methods in our guide.

If you're not sure where to get started with your yard this spring, check out our list of inspiring spring garden ideas.

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