As the weather starts to take a turn for the worse over the next few weeks and months, it’s important to do all you can to protect your garden and landscaped areas against waterlogging and flooding, both of which are can be very real issues during autumn and winter, as the rain starts to set in.
Prevention is always better than cure in this instance and it’s essential that you put measures in place to drain water away, or your soil will quickly become waterlogged, which will quickly affect the longevity of your plants. Waterlogging means that the soil becomes saturated, with no air pockets in the earth, which drowns your plant roots.
To see if you have a problem, take a look at the leaves of your plants. If you see any yellowing appearing between the veins on the leaves, this is a good indication that there’s an issue. Wilting is also an indication that you have waterlogging concerns, so check the roots for damage, such as turning blue-black or the emitting of a rotting smell.
Garden design is paramount when it comes to preventing waterlogging. If you have too many hard landscaped areas, you put your garden at increased risk because rainfall won’t be able to drain into the soil as effectively as it would otherwise.
You can help reduce the risks by opting for permeable surfaces for your patios, paths and driveways, which will improve drainage and reduce surface water runoff.
Another option is to install extra drainage outside, or perhaps include a water feature like a pond so that surplus water can be absorbed by the garden in this way instead.
As for your lawn, if you notice that you have regular flooding issues where the water drains away slowly, you’ll be encouraging the likes of moss, algae and fungal growth. Give it a good spike every couple of years in the autumn to prevent waterlogging after a wet winter.