How to Handle a Flooded Lawn
They say April Showers bring May flowers. However, it also brings unexpected bodies of water, namely on your lawn. Unless you plan on converting the flooded area into a swimming pool, then you most likely want to find a lawn care specialist in the area to fix that problem. But what if you don’t know what to expect? Is there a need for an overhaul? How long will it be until the lawn is no longer susceptible to flooding?
That’s why we are here to explain a little bit about what causes a lawn to flood in the first place, and what steps can be done to mitigate it.
Why is my Lawn Flooding?
There could be a number of reasons why your lawn may be gathering water after a few days worth of rain.
- For starters, something could be wrong with the type of soil. Some particles are more inclined to let water through than others. Clay, for instance, is terrible for absorbency. Its particles are far too large to let water through.
- Another reason that your lawn is flooding is that your house may be at the bottom of a hill. When you live in a level of low elevation, gravity will often conspire with rainfall in order to flood your yard. This is the sort of problem that will require a lawn care professional.There might be a few solutions that will require extreme landscaping, so you don’t have to pack yet.
- Also, there is a chance that your yard isn’t sloped correctly. If the angle of your yard is not steep enough, then the water will remain still in the gutter for a while until it evaporates. There are a variety of ways that it can be fixed, depending on the severity of the issue.
These are at least three why your yard is flooding, all of which require a custom tailored solution depending on the geography of the area and the nature of the problem.
So, know that we know a couple of problems, what do the solutions like?
How Can I Keep my Lawn From Flooding?
Fixing Soil Type
One of the main solutions for fixing the first problem –soil type– is to aerate the soil that has been affected after moving the silt. The silt, by definition, is the fine clay, sand, or other small natural debris that has been carried by running water. If you can’t remove it completely, the least that you can do is mix it with the old sod and dirt. This will give the old soil a chance to get access to oxygen and light for easier evaporation. Then, you want to add compost, or some type of nitrogen fertilizer before replanting the seeds in the area.
Fixing Elevation/ Hillside Problems
It is a frustrating issue when your house is currently at the bottom of a hill. Things just naturally slope downward, and you have to figure out the physics to either block the intrusion or at the very least divert it into a different direction and slow it down enough for the water to evaporate faster.
One way to at least decrease the chances of flooding in your property is to dig a trench uphill about 12-15 inches deep and at least a foot wide.
A natural version of this that would look more aesthetically pleasing would be a berm. A berm is a hill of land with plants, soil, and rock that naturally diverts the flow of water from the top to the bottom. It also blocks the area that would be protected.
Another way of fixing it is to consider altering the landscape of the yard so that the inclusion of water from rain would make it an optimal condition. After all, there are shade water plants that exist, and if it is a regular enough occurrence to cause a problem then you might want to shape your yard according to your environment.
Finally, there is the possibility of a drain addition. French Drains, are a type of drain that goes straight into the ground. Usually, it is connected to a sewage system, but you might want to ask a lawn care professional if it is legal in your zoning area.