Landscaping Tips for Flood Control

8/26/2021 (Permalink)

Maintaining the rain gutter clean will prevent water damage in your White Bear Lake, MN, home.

A heavy storm in White Bear Lake, MN, can pose a threat to your home. If you live in an area prone to outside flooding, you know what a difference even small changes can make when it comes to protecting your property.

Here are a few ways your landscaping can help divert floodwater away from your home.

Driveway Update

One of the common culprits in flooding is a concrete driveway. Unless the original design includes proper drainage structures, water from a rainstorm is likely to either flood municipal drains or direct unwanted flow toward your house. A good alternative is to find material that works with your natural landscape and allows water to absorb into the soil beneath the drive:

• Gravel
• Spaced pavers
• Grass

Rather than leave flood water with no place to go, these driveway materials allow it to soak into the soil where it belongs. This helps keep your home safe.

Heavy Mulch

Another problem with flooding is the debris that tends to spread everywhere. Mulch is great for your garden, but it's not something you want to end up in your living room. Instead of using wood chips or some type of material that can easily be washed away, choose a heavier mulch. Many synthetic mulches provide the same protection to the plants and still stay in place when excess water from a storm is present.

Rain Garden

If you want a low-maintenance landscaping idea, a rain garden is right up your alley. It can also help divert water away from your home during an outside flooding event. Choose native plants that have different moisture requirements. Plant the ones that can withstand a lot of water in the middle, a lower portion of the garden, and place the ones that don't need as much water around the perimeter. The rain will run down to the middle of the garden and pool there, giving all your plants exactly what they need and keeping the water away from your home.

Downspout Direction

Your gutters and downspouts are prominent factors in rain drainage around your home. Of course, you want to make sure that the gutters stay clean and free of debris. It doesn't do any good, however, to efficiently drain water off the roof if it just ends up gathering around your foundation. Flood damage experts recommend diverting rain spouts away from your home to prevent flooding.

Swales and Ditches

A swale is useful in residential neighborhoods to keep water from your yard out of your neighbor's property, and ditches keep runoff from flowing into the road or municipal drains. The water flows down the incline where it pools at the bottom. Many homeowners line the bottom of the swale with rocks and plant vegetation on the sides to slow the flow of the water.

You can't control the weather, but you can take specific steps to manage the effects it has on your home. By choosing landscaping options that use outside flooding to your advantage, you not only protect your house but also can sustain a beautiful lawn and garden