Your lawn requires a lot of upkeep and care. To keep it looking lush and green, you may even hire a landscaper or have it mowed occasionally. Because this area of the property is so visible, many property owners put in a lot of effort into making sure it always looks presentable, which is why it can be so frustrating when it’s all ruined in a rainstorm.
Lawns and gardens are susceptible to damage from heavy rains or rain that goes on for several days. The ground can quickly become saturated with water, resulting in puddles and pooling that can drown your grass. However, these problems are not inevitable. You can protect your property’s lawn from heavy rains with these tips. While some are preventative efforts, others can be used after the fact.
1. Aeration
This tip can be used as a preventative measure, but can also serve in cases where pooling and flooding has already occurred. Over time, the soil under your lawn may become heavily compacted. This means that there are few air pockets in the soil where water can be held when it rains.
Before heavy rains, you can create a regular schedule for lawn aeration with the help of your landscaper, or do it yourself. If you’re doing it yourself, you can use tools as simple as a pitch fork to stab the ground throughout your lawn. This will improve your lawn’s drainage when facing heavy rains.
If you’re hoping to mitigate damage after a heavy rain, you can gently stab the ground around a pool or puddle to help the area drain more quickly.
2. Keep Off the Lawn
After a heavy rain, it’s best to keep off the lawn as much as possible. Stepping on your wet lawn will increase compaction, slowing the speed of drainage. In addition, it may result in a muddy mess, choking your grass. If you must step on your lawn, try putting out wooden boards to walk on. This will help distribute your weight over the grass, avoiding unnecessary damage.
For tenants, consider making a sign to put out after heavy rain storms to remind them to please stay off the grass.
3. Gutter and Drain Maintenance
While it may seem unrelated, keeping your gutters free of clogs can make a big difference in avoiding damage to your lawn after a rainstorm. Gutters can easily become clogged with leaves, twigs and other debris, clogging them. This means that water can’t flow freely through to the drains.
Equally important are drains. Make sure that any drain filters and grates are cleaned regularly so that water won’t back up onto your lawn as a result of poor drainage.
4. Disconnect Water Storage Equipment Before it Overflows
If you have water barrels to collect rainwater, check them frequently so that they don’t overflow. When water collecting equipment overflows, it often runs over and onto your lawn, adding to the water problem. Instead, disconnect downspouts before overflow begins. This will redirect the water to the regular drainage system which should take it away from your lawn.
5. Add a Rain Garden
This solution is perfect for lawns and properties that have grading differences, specifically low areas of the property. If you notice you’re frequently having a water pooling problem on the lower end of your property, consider installing a rain garden in this area. A rain garden is a specially designed garden or flower bed that features water loving plants. Many rain garden plans also include a special soil mix high in sand that improves drainage. The water garden collects excess water and uses it, leaving the rest of your lawn free of damage.
If you’re ready to tackle this project, get the help of a landscaper experienced in this type of garden. This will ensure your project is successful.
6. Invest in Runoff and Drainage Planning
Another solution ideal for properties that experience frequent flooding is runoff and drainage planning. From installing French drains to adjusting grading and slope to avoid pooling, you can adjust the flow of water to better protect your lawn during a rainstorm. This solution also typically requires the help of an expert who can analyze the current drainage pattern and offer improvements.
With some effort and creativity, you can improve your lawn’s response to heavy rains and avoid the damage.
Need help hiring a contractor to take care of your property’s lawn and drainage issues? Contact A Creative Property Management today! We can help you through the hiring process and also oversee the work. We have contacts with hundreds of high quality contractors who we can hire at affordable rates. Allow us reduce your property management burdens with our helpful services.