Waterlogged soil could be a enormous difficulty for UK gardens, significantly in areas vulnerable to moist climate. Excessive ranges of rainfall may cause waterlogged soil, significantly in case your backyard has poor drainage.
It’s potential to repair this downside when it happens in addition to taking steps to stop it from taking place within the first place. On this means you may forestall swimming pools of water from spoiling the look of your backyard and the well being of key options like garden concepts.
“The commonest explanation for a waterlogged garden is poor draining soil, that is normally a results of compaction which suggests water can’t infiltrate by its floor. Compaction is especially widespread in clay soil however may happen in common soil,” explains backyard landscaping knowledgeable Tom Clifford, from Gardenstone.
Tom Clifford
Tom has been within the backyard landscaping enterprise for over 13 years making him an knowledgeable in backyard design, garden care and upkeep. He’s the director of Gardenstone Restricted a backyard landscaping supplies firm.
3 methods to repair a waterlogged garden
“More often than not, a waterlogged garden will start to recuperate as soon as situations begin to dry out. Nonetheless, if the garden is severely waterlogged, it could require some repairs to your floor water drainage to create an setting the place the grass can thrive once more,” explains Craig Morley, a gardening knowledgeable from Price range Seeds.
And earlier than you have got a soakaway put in there are some strategies to attempt.
(Picture credit score: CraigRJD / Getty Photos)
1. Aerate the soil to assist the water move
“If you have already got plenty of water standing in your garden, rigorously aerating the garden – trampling as little as potential – will assist it drain away sooner,” explains Man Jenkins, client supervisor at Johnsons Garden Seed.
“While grass gained’t develop if left soaking in puddles for ages, it’s a comparatively hardy plant and also you’ll give your garden the most effective likelihood of restoration with common aeration,” says Man.
Chris McIllroy advises that you simply keep away from aerating in very dry or very moist situations. So ideally wait till any swimming pools of water have drained away.
“This cracks the soil slightly and creates a gap within the soil to permit air in. Doing this in the course of the spring and autumn season has impact on the garden and helps forestall waterlogged soil.”
You may wish to additionally contemplate putting in a French drain in case your backyard may be very vulnerable to flooding.
Chris McIlroy
Chris is the technical product lead and in-house garden seed knowledgeable for The Grass Folks. His recommendation is targeted on sowing, mowing, and sustaining an ideal garden, and how one can overcome any garden points householders face.
Gently transferring your fork backwards and forwards will encourage drainage(Picture credit score: Jim Steele / Alamy Inventory Picture)
2. Restore the broken grass
“After a very moist winter and early spring like we’re going by in Britain proper now, you too can assist lawns to recuperate by giving them feed,” says Man Jenkins
“This won’t solely assist your garden cope higher with waterlogging however will even defend it in opposition to drought. It’s best to feed the grass once more in autumn with a phosphorous-rich fertiliser that may promote robust and wholesome root progress,” says Man.
In the meantime, Price range Seeds‘ knowledgeable Craig Morley explains that moist soil and useless patches in your garden can create the proper setting for moss to develop.
Selecting a grass seed which fits your garden will give it begin.
Gro-Positive Good Grass seeds, 1kg
A small quantity of seed is sweet for repairing patches.
Westland Garden Thickener – 150m2
Kill two birds with one stone with a garden feed and seed product.
Man Jenkins
Man is the Client Supervisor for Johnsons Garden Seed, the UK’s oldest supplier of garden seed, and is an knowledgeable within the area of garden seed and garden care.
Waterlogging may cause naked patches(Picture credit score: Faba-Photograhpy / Getty Photos)
3. Enhance drainage in heavier soil
Heavy soil, typically the type that’s wealthy in clay, tends to empty poorly. “In case your whole backyard has soil wealthy in clay, you could wish to set up a drainage system supplied that you’ve someplace for the surplus water to go (e.g. a ditch),” suggests Craig.
“As there isn’t any simple method to do away with extra water, typically it could be simpler to switch your garden. To do that, strip out outdated turf and dig over the world, ensuring that you simply incorporate loads of natural matter into the soil to enhance drainage. After raking and levelling the world, cowl it with garden sand earlier than you sow grass seed or lay new turf,” says Craig.
Craig Morley
Craig Morley is the Head Of Gross sales and Operations at Price range Seeds, with a variety of years of expertise within the gardening and agriculture trade. Working alongside a whole bunch of various plant varieties day-after-day.
A severely waterlogged garden might have changing(Picture credit score: Tim Gainey / Alamy Inventory Picture)
FAQs
Will grass develop in waterlogged soil?
“Grass seed does want moisture as a way to germinate and set up itself within the floor. Nonetheless, if the bottom is saturated it might trigger issues and the grass seed could wash away,” says Craig Morley, a gardening knowledgeable from Price range Seeds.
“You probably have an already established garden, your grass ought to be capable of tolerate intervals of waterlogging, however it might start to die whether it is submerged in water for a very long time.”
repair waterlogged clay soil?
“Having clay-heavy soil can forestall water from draining by the soil correctly. You may attempt to forestall this by repeatedly aerating the soil, which ought to solely be completed after the water has drained away.”
“It could even be useful to add compost or gravel to the soil to assist enhance the drainage,” says Craig.
How do I do away with standing water in my garden?
In line with Craig Morley, the most effective methods to take care of standing water in your garden is to change the topography of your backyard.
“Water will naturally move downhill, so attempt to create surfaces the place water can run off to a drainage system to be channelled away. It’s also possible to dig drainage ditches in areas of your backyard, which must be crammed with gravel and topped with a skinny layer of soil to assist water drain away,” says Craig.
How do you deal with a flooded garden?
“You may forestall your garden from turning into waterlogged by repeatedly aerating it to enhance the drainage and permit air into the soil,” explains Craig.
“After aeration, you too can overseed the garden to assist the grass create a thicker, extra complicated system of roots that may help with drainage. Attempt to observe your garden after intervals of heavy rainfall so you may be aware of areas the place water seems to pool,” says Craig.
“Examine these areas to seek out the reason for the water pooling, whether or not this be an uneven garden floor, the water having nowhere to run or the soil being compacted.”
In addition to in your grass areas it is potential to get pooling in your patio. Take a look at our permeable paving article to try to enhance drainage in your hardscaping zones too.
