Gardener tells what to do if your garden is flooded or your lawn is under water
According to the weather forecast, heavy rain will continue in the UK this week.
And flash flood warnings are in place in many areas after the UK saw a month’s worth of rain in 48 hours last weekend.
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If your yard has already been flooded or is looking soggy, there are a number of things you can do to help it recover.
Fabulous spoke exclusively to Andy Tudbury, head gardener at Lincolnshire’s Belvoir Castlewho shared his tips.
If your lawn is partially or completely under water, chances are it is too wet.
But not all lawns that are underwater are visibly underwater.
read more about fall gardening
A lawn that is too soggy to walk on, has a layer of puddles of soil just below the surface, has a lot of moss growth, or is turning yellow may also be too soggy.
To restore a soggy or flooded lawn, Andy suggested dethatching or aerating the grass.
Aerating or scarifying the lawn allows rainwater to flow more easily into the soil, instead of remaining on the surface.
Wait for the standing water to drain before doing this. You can also sweep the water off the lawn and place it in the borders if it is small.
If you are using formwork to pave the lawn, press it evenly into the lawn to create holes.
B&Q also sells a basic Hollow Tine Aerator for £12.99 or a Garden Spike Roller Lawn Aerator for £24.
Otherwise, you can purchase special aeration tools that will remove the soil plugs and leave holes. Ideally, you want the holes to be 4-6 inches deep.
Once the holes are made, cover the holes with a well-draining topsoil, such as horticultural sand.
If your lawn is prone to waterlogging, it is best to water it every few years in the fall. This will prevent you from having to take emergency measures after a wet winter.
Andy said: “If your problem is severe, you may need to contact a local drainage expert who can advise you and inspect your existing drains.
Why do gardens flood?
Andy Tudbury, head gardener at Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire, explains why.
Besides the obvious cause – a lot of rain – there are many more factors that contribute to this.
Location
Andy said: “The common reasons for flooding are varied and in many cases unique to each particular garden – some are caused by the local river or stream bursting its banks, or by housing being built on what would once have been considered a flood plain.
“Lack of maintenance of your drainage systems can sometimes also be the main cause.”
Garden design
“The current trend in garden design for low-maintenance spaces can also sometimes help – such as the use of artificial grass and hard landscaping.
“Plants also ‘drink’ a lot of water, so if you are removing your lawn, hedges, shrubs and trees etc. and extending your patio, you need to think about where all that extra water is going to go. If you don’t provide adequate drainage, it will probably just sit on the surface of your garden.”
Poor soil quality
Compacted soil, for example by heavy equipment (especially after construction work) or by being walked or played on regularly, can reduce the amount of water absorbed.
The type of soil can also cause waterlogging. Heavy clay soil, for example, naturally has poor drainage.
It also depends on how the ground was prepared before you installed the lawn.
“After all, it could be a simple blockage, but they can also advise you whether you should install infiltration crates or perforated land drains in the garden.
“In small situations where your flower or vegetable borders suffer from drainage problems, digging in a generous amount of garden grit can help.”
At B&Q you can buy a bag of grit for just £6.
Andy said that “adding organic matter or compost can aerate the soil, which promotes drainage and can generally reduce soil saturation.”
“In moist soils you need to think about what plants you are using and add those that like wet or damp feet,” he advised.
Plants that like wet soil:
Iris – Moisture-loving irises are hardy perennials that produce colorful flowers in late spring and early summer.
Bulrush – grow abundantly along most waterways in the UK and are therefore perfect for a wet garden.
Marsh milk thistle – is a thick-stemmed perennial with dense stems and narrow, medium-green leaves up to 15 cm long. It produces clusters of dark purple-pink flowers from mid-summer to early autumn.
Marsh Marigold – is a large buttercup-like flower that grows in wet places. It has very large, round, serrated leaves.
Lobelia cardinals – or cardinal flower is a colorful, moisture-loving perennial that blooms all summer and fall.
