Flooding can cause extensive lawn damage.
It’s been a wet summer for the Baltimore-Washington region, and flooding has become a huge issue for many homeowners. Although water is essential to the health of your lawn, too much can easily cause damage. It’s always a good idea to take preventative measures, but here are a few helpful tips for restoring your turf after a flood.
Let Your Lawn Breathe
When flooding subsides, give the water time to fully absorb into your lawn. This could take up to 2 or 3 weeks. It’s best to minimize foot traffic as much as possible during this time, and for some time after. Turn off sprinklers and make sure any timed irrigators are off (you can also install a rain sensor to make this process easier). Lawns that have been flood are in a very vulnerable state and susceptible to damage. If there is little silt, you can rake or aerate throughout the growing season to give the grass more space to breathe.
Remove Debris & Restore
The first thing you should after flooding is to remove any large debris like branches, leaves, or anything else that could interfere with lawn care or plant growth. This will also help your turf to breathe and absorb more sunlight. If the flood caused erosion or low spots, add topsoil to these areas. It’s important that you restore soil to its original thickness. Lawns need at least 4 inches of quality topsoil.
Additional Lawn Care
It’s especially important to encourage recovery following flooding if your lawn is still growing. Always mow the grass at the correct height. If, and only if, the grass is still growing, you can broadcast a complete fertilizer over the lawn at a rate of ½ pound nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn. More extensive damage may require a complete renovation. You may need to treat the entire area with a nonselective herbicide if weeds are growing extensively. Lawns are a delicate part of your landscape, so always thoroughly research the best practices for your grass type, or consult a lawn care professional.
Lawn Care and Irrigation Systems from Aqua Bright
For more information about outdoor lighting, irrigation, and drainage for your Maryland home, call Aqua-Bright today at 410-489-9009 or take a tour of our website. We offer top notch irrigation services from seasoned professionals. You can follow Aqua-Bright Irrigation & Illumination on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn for more updates and information about our illumination and irrigation services! For examples of our work, check us out on Pinterest, too.