After spending a lot of money and investing precious time into your garden, the last thing you want is to see it flooding.
But what can you do when your grass does become waterlogged? This is a problem many homeowners face due to the amount of wet weather the UK often experiences.
Ahead of any more heavy rain (which probably won’t be long), Rhiannon Moore at Toolstation has shared lawn care advice, including what actions to take following a flooded garden and how to prevent it.
How do you fix a flooded or waterlogged garden?
@davetheplantman How to fix a wet garden part 2 #lawn #garden #gardening #plants@Regatta Workwear @Regatta Polska @REGATTA ♬ original sound - Dave The Plantman
- Remove any debris - as soon as the flood water has receded you should remove any leftover debris (sticks, silt, leaves) to clear the lawn's surface. Do not use a metal rake for this, as this will damage the weakened soil surface.
- Aerate the soil - use a garden fork or aeration tool to spike holes into the soil surface. The holes should be no more than six inches deep.
- Fertilise the soil - fertilise the lawn using a feed that is rich in phosphorus. This will help to promote root growth as well as replace the nutrients in the ground.
It’s also important to remember not to mow a lawn after a period of extensive rain.
It’s best to wait until later in the year when the warmer temperatures will cause the grass to begin growing again.
You should also make sure to avoid watering until the ground has dried out, which Toolstation's own panel of gardeners and landscapers shared is a “very common” mistake that homeowners make.
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How do I know if my grass is waterlogged?
When a lawn becomes submerged in water, oxygen cannot reach the roots meaning they are unable to provide the nutrients needed. Over time this can result in dead grass.
Early symptoms of waterlogging damage include:
- Bare patches - as the grassroots start to die, it will result in bare patches of lawn. These first strike in the worst affected area.
- Moss patches - whilst a small amount of moss is beneficial to a lawn, large amounts of it can cause the grass to die as the moss steals the ground nutrients.
- Excess weeds - rogue weeds are a common sight in lawns however, they can quickly take over a weakened lawn and starve the remaining grass of nutrients.
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What can I do to stop my garden flooding?
- Level out the ground - if the flooding is only happening in isolated areas, you can add some topsoil and new turf to level out the uneven lawn.
- Add garden walkways - each time you walk over your lawn, you compact it beneath your feet. Adding a simple paved garden walkway will help to protect your lawn from damage.
- Consider a French Drain - if flooding is a regular issue, you may want to consider installing a French drain. This is a gravel-filled ditch with a perforated underground pipe to drain away the water. It’s best to check with your local planning authority before starting any digging.
You can find more 'how to' guides when it comes to looking after your home on the Toolstation website.
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