How To Prevent Your Garden From Flooding

• What causes gardens to flood?
  • Rainwater
  • Surface water
  • Burst sewers
• Keep gutters clean
• Improve drainage
• Raise your flower beds
• Be smart with your garden plans
  • Growing trees
  • Longer Grass
  • Grow native plants
  • Constructing a pond
• Contact us

Rainfall in the UK is very common, with some of the rainiest places seeing over 4 metres per annum according to the Met Office. It is no surprise, then, to learn that Research and Rescue found that approximately 5 million of us in England and Wales live in locations that are more prone to flooding.

Our blog contains some useful information about various ways you can protect your garden from the effects of flooding. Read on to find out more.

What causes gardens to flood?

There are multiple reasons why your garden may flood, but rainwater, surface water and burst sewers are some of the culprits.

Rainwater

If you live in an area that sees heavy rainfall, then there is a possibility you could be impacted by flooding. This is why it is so important to put in place measures within your garden that could prevent flood damage being a major issue for you.

Surface water

This may happen when there have been copious amounts of rain, and drains have become clogged in the area. With nowhere else for the water to go, it will gather on surfaces and could seep into your garden.

Burst sewers

When water becomes blocked in sewers, it may cause flooding in your garden. Avoid coming into contact with this water, as it is likely to be contaminated.

Flood damage restoration work will be needed to deal with any harmful pollutants or toxins that are present in the water. Do not attempt to deal with this yourself, as you may end up making the situation worse.

Keep gutters clean

Maintaining clean gutters is important not only for preventing flooding, but also for the condition of your property.

Having them serviced regularly will stop them from becoming blocked, as well as monitoring them yourself to make sure there are no issues.

If you're worried about flooding, check that your gutter water flows into drains. Problems can arise if the water flows onto paved areas. If this is the case, changing their location may be an option. Though it might be pricey, these is a chance it could lessen flood damage.

Improve drainage

Consider improving the drainage system in your outdoor area to lessen the likelihood of flooding. This could be achieved by creating a slope on your slabbing, which does not need to be excessive. Also think about restricting the amount of space you dedicate to pathways in your garden, as they offer a great opportunity for water to gather.

One area you could make a difference is in the driveway. Depending on the surface, water can drain into grassy spaces without much difficulty from this area. Gravelled driveways may remedy this, but could be costly to install.

Other solutions could be sought via landscaping. This might involve installing drainage next to the driveway or adding pavers. Consulting a landscaper can help with these suggestions, but again is a more expensive option.

Raise your flower beds

This is another solution that can prevent flood damage in your garden. It creates a great environment for vegetation and plants to flourish, and allows the soil to heat faster in the springtime.

Raised flower beds increase drainage capacity by absorbing larger amounts of water while also protecting plants from being exposed to soggy soil.

Typically, a raised flower bed would be made from brick, timber and stone. Whatever material you choose to use, it could prevent you from having to carry out flood damage restoration if heavy rainfall strikes.

Be smart with your garden plans

Growing trees

Hedges and trees are used for flood reduction purposes across the UK because they reduce the speed at which water flows to the ground. Due to this, some of the excess water goes back into the surrounding environment and prevents water building up on lower surfaces.

Trees have deeper roots than many plants, which help them to absorb water quickly. The rainfall has more space to move, and will not collect on the ground as much. Planting trees may not be a suitable option for all gardens, however.

Longer grass

Not cutting grass unnecessarily will negate the need for flood damage cleaning. The roots in grass are great at soaking up water, and will not be as efficient at doing so if the length is not right.

It is advised to monitor the length of your grass throughout the year but be mindful when cutting it of how much length is cut.

Grow native plants

These types of plants are better prepared for the effects of the weather and conditions of the soil.

As a result, their roots are burrowed further into the ground than their non-native counterparts. Doing some research into plants that are local to where you live is a good idea if you are worried about having to spend on flood damage cleaning. The  Royal Horticultural Society might be a good place to start with this, as they provide a wealth of information on trees and shrubs found in Britain. 

Constructing a pond

Installing a pond could also help with collecting rainwater. It is a great place for excess water to spill into, and does not have to be huge to make a difference. Paths can even be structured in such a way that they drain into ponds and water does not gather on walkways.

It has been recommended to have a good drainage structure in place if water builds up too much in the pond, so that any spillage is dealt with effectively. 

Contact us

If you would like help restoring your garden following flooding, please get in touch with us on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk. We offer flood damage cleaning services to help you restore your garden to its original condition.

If your paving slabs or driveway become dirty from the affects of flooding, we also provide brick cleaning services which will give you excellent results.

Our dedicated customer service team are available around the clock to help you.