When spring is approaching, temperatures get warmer. It is during this season most folks plan to step outside and prepare their homes and gardens for summer. Many people start planting grass, flowers and many other plants that can sure accent backyard, garden beds, and home exteriors. Summer and spring are good reasons to take water flooding precautions seriously. Flooding can be a toll to your lawn-and even hazardous if not dealt with on time. It can damage your backyard and destroy all your plants than you can believe.
Lawns are commonly flooded by rivers, overflow steams or heavy rains. A flooded lawn is terrible and quite frightening. So, how can you revive your lawn and get it back to its snazzy
Beauty?
Reviving a flooded lawn is more complicated yet far simpler. However, if you are experiencing a heavy flooded lawn every time it rains, there is something in this article that worth considering.
Flooded Lawn: Drainage
Lawn flooding is a clear sign of improper drainage. Have you ever tried to find out where the water is flowing from? Your flooding lawn could be from your neighbor or a slope or even from the roofs. It is always important to take note of areas of your lawn that provides proper drainage. Here are a few important tips to fix drainage issues;
Flooded Lawn: French Drainage issues
A French drainage system does a good job by collecting excess water through perforated pipes and distributes it evenly into the soil. When installing these pipes, cover them up with aggregated materials (gravel) for an excellent performance. Aggregate materials are the best insulators and protect the pipes from clogging.
Flooded Lawn: Dry Wells
These are underground plastic wells used in water collection. This innovative drainage solution
works effectively when put in lower ground levels than that of the house. They are also
surrounded by aggregate materials for proper drainage. Dry wells are used for problematic yards
with adverse conditions.
Sump pumps
These pumps are inserted into wells, draw water and pump it to another spot. The system might be expensive but it is worth the splurge. Yes, because it’s effective.
Elevation
Check the elevation of your lawn. Flooding normally occurs in low areas. So, it is wise to elevate your area either by adding topsoil or mulching. This will prevent water from flooding.
How does damage occur?
Damage occurs in two categories;
Primary damage-This includes external factors such as temperature and water. As the
water temperature gets lower, turfs are likely to die because of insufficient oxygen.
Secondary damage-This includes diseases, moss, and algae, the formation of sediments
and weed.
Repair timing of flooded lawn
Timing repair also isn’t an easy job as most grasses do not establish well in the middle of the summer. This is as a result of high heat and diseases that might occur.
The good time is when the temperatures are low, that is, around mid to late august. Lawns in this season have excellent chances of an effective establishment.
After the flood
A flooded lawn is a messy experience and needs attention or else they can pose a serious problem. Important tip: Lawns left for more than four days and covered with more than 1 inch of silt requires serious restoration because many of the turfs are dead. Alternatively, lawns underwater less than four days and covered with less than 1 inch of silt are simple to recover. Take care of your lawn and bring it back to good health with these easy to follow DIY tips;
NO 1. Stop applying pressure
Your lawn is a great pride and you don’t want it to look disastrous. However, constant flooding can make your lawn frustrating. During this time, don’t step on wet soil-why? Wet soil is compressible with any amount of pressure. Walking on your wet lawn, therefore, means damaging the roots of your plants.
NO 2. Debris removal
A flooding lawn contains many drawn chaffs that the flood delivered-tree leaves, branches, nails and many more. Get a rake or shovel and gently start removing all garbage and trashes out of your lawn. Pour them in your wheelbarrow and take away. Was thoroughly and spray areas with smaller debris with a hose for a complete cleanup.
Be careful-harmful items such as glass and metals are brought into the yard.
NO 3. Plants cleaning
After flooding attacks your lawn, your plants become partially or fully submerged. Wash them gently with clean water to remove mud left behind. Scrape off any soil and silt delivered by the flood.
NO 4. Stay to Dry
Bring out mulch from your yard to allow the soil to start drying out. Let your soil last up to one week before you bring back the mulch.
NO 5. Soil replenishing
Your soil might have been contaminated with toxic materials and treating it is something you should take into consideration seriously. The fertilizers that you used on your soil were likely to be washed away. Replenish your soil with a half-strength fertilizer to recover the lost nutrients. A half of nitrogen per thousand square feet can encourage effective restoration.
NO 6. Core aeration
Aeration helps to dry to the soil. It allows oxygen exchange and enhances new growth. While it can take more than a week for soil to dry, some plants may start appearing. It is during this time to begin core aeration. Use the core aerator to create small holes. They help your soil dry out faster. This also improves the overall health and structure of your soil.
NO 7. Renovate lawns
For plants that are not easily repaired, consider renovations.
NO 8. Have plans for the future
Floods happen and they do when we least don’t expect them. However, if you are prone to constant lawn flooding, take proper measures. One of the great ways is to use drainage systems. They help in ensuring your backyard is dry and in good health.
What are the negative after flood effects?
Floodwater can lead to serious health problems. They can cause dangerous bacteria that are harmful to human health. So, keep yourself safe and secure when cleaning up. Always wear gloves, masks, boots and appropriate protection gowns. Adhere to after use precautions and wash your hands after work.
Take appropriate steps if you find your yard is infected with fungus or bacteria as a result of the flood. Replace the topsoil and grow new plants. Adapt antibacterial products in heavily affected areas.
Final thought about flooded lawn
Flooding can be stressful. Whether the water comes from roofs or rivers, after it recedes, every homeowner needs immediate restoration. It poses safety hazards to human beings and animals. The above tips are the sure-fire way to effectively recover your dreamy garden. Contact our office if you need help. Quench Irrigation (201) 441-9720
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