If you live in an area prone to flooding, you’ve probably already taken precautions to protect and minimize flood damage to your home. Yet flooding can also devastate gardens, killing plants, contaminating soil and destroying decking, paths and fences. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help mitigate garden damage.
Ideally, garden flood preparation is part of the planning and design process. By choosing flood resistant plants, improving drainage and using water resistant building materials, you can mitigate damage when flooding occurs.
Of course, most of us are working with existing gardens. This doesn’t mean you have to remove what you have and start over. Instead, as you introduce new plantings or update your design, incorporate elements that will increase your garden’s flood tolerance.
If the worst happens and your garden is subject to a flood, proceed cautiously when cleaning up. Wear heavy gloves and boots and make sure your immunizations are up to date. Scratches can lead to serious infections such as melioidosis and tetanus from contaminated soil. Do not consume fruits or vegetables that have been exposed to flood water as they may carry contaminants from sewage or other sources.
For more information on reducing flood damage to your garden, the Environment Agency (U.K.), in conjunction with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, has some helpful information.
Before you take steps to prepare your garden for flooding, be sure you’ve done everything you can to mitigate flood damage to your home. For many homeowners, flood vents are an important part of flood preparation. Flood vents help maintain the structural integrity of your home by allowing flood waters to flow through. You’ll end up with a soggy crawlspace, but you’re less likely to sustain structural damage.
At Flood Solutions, we design and manufacture only FEMA compliant flood vents made in the U.S.A. To learn more about our flood vents, contact us.
