DIAGNOSIS: RAIN DAMAGE SAVE YOUR GARDEN AFTER THE STORMS.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Staff Writer

When it rains in L.A., more than the freeways get flooded.

Gardens not accustomed to torrential rainstorms and snow flurries were hit hard recently - pansies were drowned in their prime, daffodils flattened and fruit trees deflowered. And forecasters say to expect more rain. The good news for gardeners is that quick action after a storm can ensure spring blooms, say local horticulturists.

``First of all, don't go tromping around in the garden when the soil is muddy, as you are compacting the mud and pushing out the oxygen, which drowns your plants,'' cautions Robin Pokorski, president of the Southern California Garden Club.

The San Fernando resident says the much-needed rain was great because it washed everything off, but the timing was bad.

``The biggest problem from (the recent) storm is citrus trees. They were the hardest hit, and every flower knocked off represents a piece of fruit,'' says Brian Sullivan, horticulture supervisor for Descanso Gardens. He adds that the flowers won't grow back, but trees with only a few opened buds may be saved if gardeners quickly feed them with a well-balanced fertilizer, such as a ``5-5-5'' blend.

Gardeners who just finished putting in bedding flowers such as pansies and primroses will probably have to pull them out and start over because they didn't have time to grow deep roots, says Pokorski. Ditto with sweet pea seedlings.

More-established plants may look wilted, but they'll perk up again after a few sunny days, says Sullivan. Those who purchased plants but didn't get around to planting them should do so, while the ground is still damp but not muddy - and before the next wave of the El Nino system hits the Southland.

Rose bushes may look like they were forced into an early spring, but these experts say not to worry. ``Just leave the new growth alone. No buds have formed yet, so actually the rain was beneficial and shouldn't cause any problems with fungus or disease,'' says Sullivan.

Pokorski adds that the amount of rain could help establish deeper roots on rose bushes (and other bushes), which will protect them in the heat of the summer. If your rose garden suffered mudslides and/or all the granules you fed it in the winter are gone, go ahead and feed again.

Fortunately, most bulbs haven't bloomed yet. Daffodils, however, were the exception: With an unseasonably early bloom period, they got soaked beyond redemption. To clean up the garden, Pokorski and Sullivan suggest snipping the spent flower and its stem, but leaving the greens to help feed next year's flowers.

In anticipation of the next rainfall, prepare your soil by raking leaves, pulling weeds and amending the soil, says Tom Hayduk, a horticulturist at Soka University in Calabasas.

``Fluff up the organic matter for better drainage and try to create mounds for the flowers. Not only will they look better aesthetically, but they won't be as likely to drown in the coming rain,'' Hayduk advises.

Other precautions? ``Just weather it out, and prepare for a zillion slugs and snails. They go with the (wet) territory,'' says Sullivan with a laugh.

The horticulturist didn't mention ants, but during stormy weather they'll seek shelter in your home or favorite flowers. To get rid of them, start by filling house and patio foundation and wall cracks with silicone caulk. Then lay bait traps on the perimeter of your home and/or garden. You can try spraying ant-infested plants with chemical pesticide, but hosing them off with water is safer. And while you're out in the garden, plant some peppermint as a natural deterrent. Ants hate it, says pest control expert Michael Bohdan in his book ``What's Buggin' You?'' (Santa Monica Press; $12.95).

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