NJ Landscape Design Tips: Protecting your Garden from Flood Damage
February 11th, 2016 | By: Mitchell Knapp | Landscape Design
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To say that New Jersey residents are no strangers to flooding can be considered a major understatement. In fact, many parts of the state were subjected to light flooding due to the recent November nor’easter. The following excerpt is from an NJ.com article dated November 1, 2014:
Love it or not, New Jersey residents won’t immediately be spared the effects of the nor’easter and its aftermath until at least late Sunday, said Valerie Meola, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
By late Saturday afternoon, some areas of New Jersey saw more rain than anticipated while some saw less, but they averaged between 1 and 2 inches, Meola said.
Nearly 2 inches of rain had fallen at the Atlantic City Marina by Saturday morning, Meola said. And by the afternoon, three-quarters of an inch doused Belmar.
A minor flood advisory for the coast remains in effect until 7 p.m. on Saturday when high tide could prevent standing water from draining.
Naturally, homes around New Jersey have added countermeasures to protect their homes from flood damage. Unfortunately, some people do not have a drainage system robust enough to properly protect their gardens from flooding. Protect the landscape design of your NJ home by following these simple tips:
Add Organic Compounds
Having too much water in soil can cause the roots of your flowers to rot. Provide better protection by adding more organic matter (banana peels, dead leaves, etc.) to the soil in your garden. Soil with large amounts of organic matter allows excess water to drain faster.
Install a French Drain
By design, the pipes used for French drains are covered by pebbles or gravel. Through smart design, you can hide the drain and make it blend perfectly with the existing design of your garden. If you decide to do this, be sure to get the help of experienced landscape architects in NJ like Tapestry Landscape Architecture. For added protection, you may want to redirect your downspouts to empty directly into the French drain.
Use Water Loving Plants
Of course, there will be times when there is simply too much water for your drainage to handle. If this happens often in your area, you may be better off adding water-loving plants in your garden. Some beautiful plants include Joe-Pye Weed, Cardinal Flower, Creeping Jenny, and Forget-Me-Not.
