Limit flooding in your garden
It can rain a lot in autumn. There is increasing likelihood of heavy showers, especially due to climate change. And this also increases the risk of flooding! The sight of flooded streets and gardens is not an unfamiliar one. Fortunately, something can be done to minimize the risk of flooding in your garden. We will be happy to explain it to you!
Problems due to excess water
Unfortunately, paving is a common phenomenon seen in many of today’s gardens. Many front and back gardens are completely paved. The advantage is that your garden requires little maintenance, but these paving slabs also have many disadvantages. It means that rainwater takes longer to drain into the soil because of the slabs than when plants are planted. The water stays on top of the slabs and can cause quite a lot of damage!
Problems that can be caused by excess water are, first and foremost, flooding indoors or damage to garden sheds, gazebos, and decking. The water can also cause algae to grow or create bare patches in the lawn. An even bigger problem is the risk of sinking patios or garden paths. In short, flooding is not at all fun!
Reduce the risk of damage
Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take to keep flooding to a minimum in your garden. We have listed these garden jobs below.
1. More greenery
First of all, it is advisable to avoid paving your whole garden and to make sure that enough greenery is planted in the soil. This allows the water to drain via the garden soil and prevents problems. It also helps to make the gaps between the slabs wide enough so that the water can also drain between the slabs. In addition, a pond can be used as an additional buffer storage for water.
2. Good soil preparation
If the soil in your garden is not sufficiently permeable to water and air, a puddle of water may collect on the soil, giving your plants wet feet! Plants are never happy with wet feet! Make sure that you dig your garden soil thoroughly and to a good depth. This creates enough space in the soil so that the water can easily drain into it.
3. Other actions
In addition, there are other smaller actions that can help to limit flooding. For example, choose gravel instead of paving. Gravel is much better at letting water through than slabs. Installing a rain barrel can also help limit the amount of water in your garden. Water is collected in the barrel and can be used at a later date for watering your plants.
Another tip is to install a drainage gutter or drain. The best thing is to ensure that your patio slopes slightly, so that the water runs directly into the gutter or drain.