In New England, we have unusual weather that leaves an impact on our landscape. Any type of weather event from snowstorms, hail, rain, or even droughts can dramatically impact the greenery in your yard. Keep reading to learn how your landscape could be affected by one of these events.

 

How Storms Can Affect Landscaping

Winter can be a brutal season for landscapes with snow and ice, but spring can be just as damaging with rainstorms and flooding. It’s always good to be prepared and know ahead of time how different weather events can affect your property, from droughts, flooding, and erosion, to tree and lawn damage.

 

Droughts and Flooding

Getting too much rain at once can be just as damaging as having a drought. When plants lack water, it limits the growth of the plants and makes them more susceptible to diseases. Trees and shrubs suffer from scorching and defoliation when they receive no rain for a long period of time. When there is an abundant amount of rain at once, most trees and plants can’t survive under all of that water for much longer than a week. It causes their oxygen supply to be cut off, which makes it difficult for the trees and plants to get the energy that they need.

 

Soil Erosion

Erosion is the process of the land wearing down. It can be caused by all different types of storms. Rain can cause damage to the soil in your yard and start the process of erosion. Damaged soil will eventually affect the plants and trees that are planted around the soil. Erosion is a rippling effect that could truly destroy the overall appearance of your landscape.

 

Tree and Lawn Damage

A heavy amount of snow can weigh on trees causing deformation. This will affect the appearance of your trees and your lawn. Snow not only affects the trees, but it has an impact on the lawn as well. Have you ever noticed pink or grey patches in your lawn after the snow melts? That’s called snow mold, and it’s caused by the moisture left from the melted snow. This is a fungal disease that fosters underneath the snow and causes the grass to die.

 

Solution for Inclement Weather

Are you tired of the weather wrecking your lawn, crops, and plants? You may want to think about applying some of the solutions below to help reduce the amount of damage that occurs from these storms.

• Lawn Grading: Grade your lawn, so it has a downward slope to ensure that water doesn’t damage your home or yard.
• Overseeding: Overseed or dormant seed your lawn to help create stronger, healthier grass to withstand the winter months.
• French Drains: Install a French drain to redirect water from a specific area to avoid flooding.
• Retaining Walls: Build a retaining wall to help drain water to avoid soil erosion.
• Walkways: Add a walkway to your landscape to avoid damage during snowstorms and allow for easier path clearing.
• Tree Pruning: Prune trees before storms to make them more resistant to storm damage.

 

It’s important to know how inclement weather could potentially affect your landscaping. Dolan Landscaping has been in this business for over 25 years, and we would be happy to help with preparing for a storm and the aftermath of some extreme weather events. Contact us today to see how we can help you be ready for the next storm!