What can you do for your flooded lawn or landscape?
A flooded lawn can wreak havoc on your landscape and require lots of time and money to fix. The flooding could be caused by several factors and it is very important to figure out why it is happening. If you have experienced flooding before or want to prevent flooding from occurring again, there are several steps you can take to prevent and protect your yard and landscape. Read on to learn how to help a flooded lawn recover and what you can do to be proactive about lawn care in the future.
Stay Off the Lawn
If your lawn is flooded, do your best to minimize traffic on the lawn. You do not want to walk on the wet soil, which will be soggy and soft. Walking on this soil can cause damage to the roots and crowns of your plants and destroy your grass.
Remove What You Can
A rainstorm strong enough to produce a flooded lawn is also likely to bring some debris onto your lawn. Tree branches, trash, and other lawn debris need to be removed from your yard. If you can remove debris with a rake without stepping on the grass, that is best. However, if your yard is big and requires walking around, try and minimize your steps. If possible, wait until your lawn has dried out to remove the debris to minimize traffic.
Remove Mulch Layers from Beds
You should also remove older mulch from your garden and landscaped areas. It may seem drastic to do so, but these layers will likely need to be replaced anyway. Some of it may run into your lawn which could be a cause of some of the flooding. Removing the top layers of mulch can help with the drying process in your mulch beds, and is a beneficial practice on a routine schedule when applying new mulch.
Aerate Your Lawn
You may need to wait a few weeks for your flooded lawn to dry out. Then, you can take steps to start revitalizing your lawn. Once new growth appears through the soil, you can begin aerating it. This will help relieve the compacted soil left behind from the flood. Deep-tine aeration may also be a possible solution that will help with the drainage through the soil profile.
How to Be Proactive: Raise Your Lawn
Once you have made it through one flooded lawn, you will want to avoid future problems. One thing to do is raise your lawn. When your lawn floods, mark the flooded area with stakes. Once the water has subsided, cut out the grass in the staked area and rototill the space to loosen the soil. You can then raise the lawn with screened topsoil. Then, you may reseed or sod the site. This can help push the water somewhere else; however, make sure it won’t just go to another spot in your yard. If so, you may need a drainage system.
Install Dry Wells or Subsurface Drainage Systems
A dry well is an empty barrel with a top, no bottom, and holes in the side. This will capture the flood water and hold it underground while slowly releasing it through the holes on the side. If your property allows, subsurface drainage systems such as a traditional French drain may be an appropriate remedy as well.
Liquid Aeration Products
New technology has emerged that helps modify the physical soil particle structure to create more porosity which helps with natural drainage. Increased pore space in the soil allows for more water penetration and expanded root growth which helps improve your lawn’s health naturally. When done in conjunction with traditional mechanical aeration, maximum health benefits for your lawn’s soil can be achieved.
Contact Professionals
Ultimately, it is best to call the experts when time, money, and your lawn is at stake. If you are unsure of the best course of action for your flooded lawn, contact Scientific Plant Service for guidance and solutions.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!