3 Tips to Protect Your Lawn Against Heavy Summer Rains

The Tampa Bay area is now in the heart of the summer rainy season, which means lots of precipitation and rain run off. If your yard is starting to get saturated, it could mean big problems for the health & beauty of your lawn. With more rain expected over the next month-along with potential for a tropical storm or hurricane-the time to take care of any lawn drainage issues is now.

We thought we’d share an article from Florida Gardens Lawn & Shrub on preventing oversaturation of your lawn & what to do to insure your lawn’s health during the rainy season:

It was almost a year ago that the Tampa Bay area was inundated with heavy rains from a tropical storm passing through, which was then very quickly followed by another deluge of tropical weather. Some low lying areas (like in South Tampa) were immobilized by flooded roads and the remnants of the storm water, but generally most of Tampa Bay was swamped & exceptionally soggy.

As we mentioned last year, these storms wreaked havoc on yards and landscapes cross the Tampa Bay area. Oversaturation not only floods & washes away mulch and soil from shrub beds, but it can leave your yard vulnerable to brown dead spots and pests. We’ve had a steady but manageable amount of rain this summer & dodged the big one so far, but it only takes one heavy storm to make your lawn and shrub beds a disaster.

So what can you do to prepare for the inevitable heavy rain that’s eventually going to come? If you’ve taken the cup test to determine where your yard collects the most rain, then you know what areas need improved drainage. So now that you know what areas are prone to flooding, what do you do to ebb the flow of those incoming storm waters which collect in your yard?

• Removing blocks in natural drainage areas on and around the property (e.g., fences or sheds)
• Clearing gutters and disconnecting downspouts from municipal sewers to prevent backup
• Building walls and barriers to prevent water flowing to a low-entry point

Another great tip-use native plants! As we’ve mentioned before, native plants are ideal for your yard for a number of reasons, including that they can handle the extra water:

…use a variety of plants and grasses that are native to your area. Since they are better adapted to local climates, natives are better able to handle flooding and drought. In addition, native plant mixes are typically more attractive to wildlife, better at preventing soil erosion, and require less mowing, water, and weeding than traditional grass lawns.

Tips: Source