Hurricane season is still not over. This means that we may continue to see heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms within the next few months. If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, maybe below a slope out in the hill country or on land with poor drainage systems, we have some tips for you. We care about your commercial lawn and business and want for you to be prepared to handle rainstorms and floodwaters. Read on to learn about possible solutions and how we can help you.

Let TLC Total Lawn Care protect and restore your commercial lawn. Contact us here.

Potential Damage

A lawn is only able to tolerate standing floodwater for a few days before it begins to deteriorate. After about four days, a lawn will begin to experience some real damage – especially in hot weather due to a continuous lack of oxygen and light.

Other causes of damage during a flood are soil coverage, contaminated water, high water temperatures and algae scum. The factor that may be the most detrimental to your commercial lawn is the deposit of sediment. Sediment is bits of solid sand-like material that contains rocks, minerals and remains of plants and animals. When sediment sits over lawn surfaces for too long, it can cause soil layering problems and even kill your lawn turf.

If Your Turf Has Flooded

If your landscape floods, you should clean up after the water recedes. You can do so by removing any debris like wood, glass, stones, leaves and metal objects. This helps prevent damage to mowing machines. Pets and visitors will also be safe on your lawn.

Soil that deposits on a lawn should be shoveled and removed by using a water hose. It should be removed once the turf has dried, however, and this can take about two to three weeks. The amount of soil that deposits over your lawn can indicate how likely your lawn is to survive flooding. One to two inches of soil, for example, may not have a great negative impact if your lawn is flooded for less than four days. However, lawns covered with more than two inches of soil have a smaller chance of recovery. Our landscapers can assess your lawn and verify whether it can be saved or if it needs significant repairs.

Floodwater Drainage Solutions

Controlling where floodwater sits or runs after a rainstorm can protect your lawn and the environment. Porous surfaces and deep-rooted, water-loving plants can help control water distribution. Proper drainage and water-directing systems can also protect your lawn from standing floodwaters.

The most basic type of drainage system for your lawn is a swale, which is a low, hollow place between two ridges. This swale can collect water and safely drain it out of your lawn into a dry well or a garden bed. To slow water drainage, rocks can be added to the lowest point of the swale and plants to the ridge slopes.

Lower spots in a lawn may collect floodwater and become soggy, unsuitable areas for grass and plants. To redirect water from these low spots, make sure that your gutters and underground drainage pipes are clean and are clear of anything that prevents water from running freely. You can also fill any low spots on your lawn with topsoil to even out the landscape and allow water to disperse evenly. For any further modifications to your lawn, allow TLC Total Lawn Care to visit your commercial lawn and create or install any necessary drainage systems.

Leave it to the Professionals

Our commercial lawn care experts have the necessary tools and equipment to modify your lawn to withstand heavy rainfall or restore it if damage has already occurred. In the aftermath of a thunderstorm, you may need TLC Total Lawn Care to clean your landscape and provide other maintenance services. Contact us at 800.796.8087 to ask about our floodwater protection services.