We all know that a little rain is great for your lawn, especially when it needs reviving after winter or times of drought (like the dryness we had earlier in the season). But when that gentle rain turns into days of downpours, the drink quickly sours. Too much rain can cause a ton of problems that can damage or even kill your once-healthy grass. If you’re curious about whether too much rain hurts your lawn, or wondering what to do if your yard floods, here are our top tips!
Potential Issues You Could face
A few of the most common problems linked to too much rain in your lawn are:
Fungal growth: If too much water enters the soil and stagnates at the root of your grass, rotting will occur. This damp environment is ideal for the development of fungus. As a result, yellowish patches will overtake the green.
Nutrient loss: As water saturates your grass and the soil, it eventually flushes out the nutrients your lawn so desperately needs, leaving it weak and lackluster. You’ll have to use more fertilizer than you normally would want to use on your lawn to compensate.
Root problems: Just like humans, grass needs oxygen! Too much water fills air gaps in the soil, leaving your grass without the air it needs to grow.
Weed growth: Weeds thrive in wet conditions. While too much water floods and drowns your grass it also simultaneously nourishes weeds, leaving you with more weeds than grass.
The good news is you don’t have to dread the rainy season and your lawn doesn’t have to be a victim of rainy Maryland weather.
Our tips for dealing with water-logged lawns
There are ways to prevent flooding, and there’s even help if it’s too late for prevention and your lawn is flooded right now. Let’s talk prevention. There are a few landscaping tips that will make it easier for your lawn to survive heavy rains and escape flooding.
Grade your yard: When you design your yard, be sure the soil slopes downward and away from your house in each direction. This way, water will flow away from your home and will easily drain from your lawn.
Add rain barrels: If you install a rain barrel at the base of a downspout, it will collect the gush of water that otherwise might drown your grass. The added bonus is you can save this water and use it to water your lawn when it really needs it.
Install drainage along your driveway: Rain often runs off driveways and pools in grassy areas. To prevent this, add a channel drain or similar drainage system along the sides of the driveway.
Install a French drain in your yard: You (or a professional) will dig a trench in one spot so water that accumulates in one area of the yard can travel to other areas. This technique is best for yards with one or two trouble spots.
Install a backyard sump pump: The sump pump isn’t for everyday yard drainage, but is ideal for emergency draining. This tool is best used in conjunction with another system, such as the French drain, which can handle ordinary yard drainage.
My lawn flooded - now what?
If you haven’t had a chance to do any of the above and your yard is flooded right now—what can you do?
The good news is if your lawn is underwater for a week or less, it will more than likely survive. Rake it as it dries to remove silt, then gradually add fertilizer. Monitor the lawn for about thirty days, and then, if recovery is underway, continue your usual lawn care routine. If your grass has been underwater for more than a week, it’s possible it won’t survive and you might have to prepare a new lawn.
Feeling overwhelmed? You can call an expert at Rooted In Nature for help at any time at 443-846-0199 or info@rootedinnaturemd.com. We are happy to assist you!
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