If your property is at risk of flooding, it’s essential that you make the right landscaping choices. Surfaces like concrete and asphalt offer poor drainage and could encourage water to pool on top, while materials like wooden decking may suffer significant water damage if submerged. Just which surface materials should you choose instead? Below are a few much more suitable options.
Lawn
Lawns allow water to be absorbed into the soil. Of course, certain types of soil offer better drainage – sandy soils drain water well, while clay retains water and can encourage flooding. A lawn therefore may not be the best flood defence if you live in an area with clay soil. It’s worth noting that certain types of grass may also survive flooding better than others. Creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are all examples of flood tolerant grasses.
Gravel
Gravel is an excellent surface choice for allowing drainage. Providing it’s quite a deep gravel bed, water should be able to drain through the gaps in the stones. There are many different types of stones you can use in various different colours. Take your time to explore different gravel styles. Most people use gravel as a surface for social areas. Just make sure that any furniture placed on gravel is lightweight – heavy furniture may sink into gravel. Gravel strips known as French drains can also be used as a border option between parts of your garden, while also serving as a flood defence.
Permeable paving
Regular patios typically don’t offer much drainage. However, by using permeable pavers, you can allow water to drain between slabs. This can prevent water from pooling on your patio and is an excellent option for flood-prone gardens. Permeable paving comes in many different styles – including different types of stone and various paving patterns.
Metal grating
For providing serious drainage, consider building channels in your garden for water to collect in and be diverted away, and cover these channels in metal grating. You’re unlikely to want to cover your entire garden in metal grating, but it could be a great corder option. You can even consider covering metal grates in gravel – allowing water to drain through the gravel, through the metal grates and into the trenches below.
Bio-retention strips
What is a bio-retention strip? These are typically vegetated areas designed to hold stormwater runoff. They involve building a trench and filling it with permeable soil. Flood-resistant plants are then planted in this soil to thrive off the water. Bio-retention strips are best placed in areas of your garden where water naturally pools. They are a key feature within ‘rain gardens’.
Conclusion
Opting for these surface options will help to offer drainage and prevent flooding on your property. It’s worth noting that there are other ways you can prevent flooding such as adding soakaways and diverting water towards ponds. Walls and barriers can also serve as flood defences. This article offers a few other tips on how to protect your garden against flooding.
