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Usually, rain showers deliver much-needed relief in the height of summer, quenching your lawn and cooling the temps to a more manageable (and often, enjoyable) level. But you know what they say about “too much of a good thing.” If you notice a massive rainstorm is expected—or if it's been raining non-stop for several days in a row—it’s always smart to take a few precautions, like covering your outdoor furniture, shutting your windows, and getting your cars into the garage in case rain turns to hail.
But what should you be doing to protect your lawn and your landscaping? Unlike the quick tasks around your house that you can check off before a downpour, lawn preparations ahead of heavy rain require more advanced planning.
If your home is located in an arid region, especially one that has experienced drought conditions, and gets hit hard by a rainstorm, your biggest problem after flooding is likely to be soil erosion, Gerry Boerlage, CEO and founder of the garden edging system FormBoss, explains.
“Hardened, dry soil is less able to absorb water quickly, so it tends to run off, especially on slopes, taking the topsoil with it,” Boerlage says. Unfortunately, this can also lead to nutrient leaching, making it tough for your soil to support plants. Waterlogged soil can also become compacted and hinder root growth.
Beyond that, excessive rain can oversaturate your soil, making it hard for grass roots to breathe, and causing root rot, landscaping expert Gene Caballero says. The cofounder of GreenPal, a site that connects homeowners with local lawn-care services, adds that this can cause entire patches of grass to die.
How Much Rain Is Too Much?
So, you’re probably wondering how many inches of rain call for more concern and a stronger response. Here’s an approximate timetable, according to Boerlage, for when rain can turn problematic for your lawn:
- 1 to 2 inches in 1 to 2 hours can lead to minor flooding in poorly drained areas.
- 3 to 4 inches over 24 hours can cause significant flooding and soil erosion.
- Several days of consistent rainfall can result in root rot and moisture-related problems where drainage is poor.
Ahead, experts share five things that you should do to protect your lawn from massive rainstorms.
Cut the Grass Regularly
Samantha Odo, a real estate sales representative and Montreal division manager at Precondo Real Estate, talks frequently with her clients about how keeping a beautiful lawn goes a long way toward boosting curb appeal. The busy summer home-selling season coincides with unpredictable storms, so she always recommends prep work to sellers, but these are tips any homeowner can benefit from.
“Overly lush lawns with long grass can inadvertently serve as sails in strong winds, potentially tearing up patches or destabilizing the root systems and making the lawn susceptible to erosion from heavy rain,” Odo says.
The solution? Mow a few days before the storm arrives, aiming for a grass blade height of two to three inches. This height ensures that the grass blades remain sturdy against wind and rain and still promotes a healthy root system.
Clean Drains and Gutters
Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause water to overflow, causing large amounts of rainwater to cascade onto your lawn. “This can quickly saturate the soil, creating washouts and muddy patches,” Odo says. Water pooling can also erode the soil and wash away nutrients essential for plant health, Caballero adds.
To prevent this from happening, grab your ladder and clear out any leaves or debris that might be blocking the flow. Make sure the downspouts direct water away from your house and foundation, ideally out onto the street or into a designated drainage ditch, she says.
Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn periodically can help improve drainage, which in turn reduces the risk of waterlogging, Caballero says. This landscaping maintenance task is done using a tool that removes small plugs of soil from the lawn, creating small holes that allow air, water, and nutrients to enter deeper into the soil, he explains. It helps to reduce soil compaction and promotes root growth.
Aerating your lawn should typically be done once a year during your grass’s growing season—either spring or fall for cool-season grasses and late spring through early summer for warm-season types. Lawn aeration costs about $75 to $203, depending on factors like the size of your lawn, according to Angi.
Maintain Your Trees
You don’t want to wait until a major storm is in the forecast to prune your trees. Instead, it’s best to hire an arborist to remove dead and diseased branches to prevent them from snapping and blowing around in high winds. This is a job best left to the pros because arborists have techniques like crown thinning to help make trees more resilient in heavy rain and wind storms. They can also test your trees to ensure they’re healthy and not susceptible to falling in heavy storms.
Pick Up Loose Items in the Yard
A stray lawn chair may seem harmless, but in strong winds it can become a dangerous projectile. “The same goes for planters, wind chimes, and even those cute little garden gnomes,” Odo says.
Take some time to secure or bring in any loose items. If you can’t bring your patio furniture inside, you can cover those larger objects with a tarp and anchor them with bungee cords attached to stakes. Should winds kick up, this will protect your property and stop furniture from blowing into your house (or your neighbor’s yard!).
