Waterlogged lawns / RHS Gardening (2024)

FAQs

Waterlogged lawns / RHS Gardening? ›

Waterlogging is common on poorly drained soil or when heavy soil is compacted. waterlogged areas. There are a number of causes that can lead to waterlogging, including: compacted soil, perhaps from heavy machinery (especially after building work) or simply from being walked on or played on regularly.

Waterlogged soils exclude oxygen from the roots thus causing decline of the plants. What happens is the roots die off leaving the plant unable to uptake the needed moisture and nutrients for proper plant growth.

The usual method is to create a soakaway by digging out a substantial box-shaped hole that's then lined with membrane and filled with more stones or rubble. The water will fill and collect in this reservoir before gradually seeping out into the surrounding soil over a matter of hours or days.

Step one: Strip off the old turf. Step two: Dig over the area. Step three: Add enough organic matter (e.g., compost) to improve clay soil drainage. Step four: Rake and level the surface.

To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it. Adding hydrated lime and compost will help absorb the water in your soil, and turning it all will help distribute the water in the waterlogged soil throughout your garden.

A key practice for improving soil drainage is incorporating organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure. Organic matter improves soil structure by increasing soil aggregation which allows for more and varied pore sizes.

Stem, Root and Seed Rot

Cool wet soils cause a number of stem and root rots. Roots need to breathe oxygen and will drown just like humans.

If you notice any of the above signs, cut back on watering and let the soil dry out completely before watering again. You may also need to aerate the soil to improve drainage and root growth. If you are still having trouble, consider hiring a professional lawn care company to help get your lawn back on track.

Lawn aeration can improve drainage.

If your lawn has poor drainage, water can pool on the surface and cause problems like flooding and waterlogging. Lawn aeration can help to alleviate these problems by increasing the amount of oxygen in the soil and improving drainage.

Then, you should address any problems that you've created such as fungal growth, a pest problem, or thatch build-up. Most of the time, lawns will bounce back from overwatering unless it's been going on for such a long time that the grass is dead.

How do you fix soil that doesn't absorb water? ›

To re-wet, repeatedly sprinkle the surface lightly, making sure there is no run off. Covering the surface with a mulch such as straw, leaves, wood chips, or compost will also help. Eventually the soil will become moist enough to break up. A gentle, steady rain will also do the trick.

Waterlogging is one of the main abiotic stresses suffered by plants. Inhibition of aerobic respiration during waterlogging limits energy metabolism and restricts growth and a wide range of developmental processes, from seed germination to vegetative growth and further reproductive growth.

To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it. Adding hydrated lime and compost will help absorb the water in your soil, and turning it all will help distribute the water in the waterlogged soil throughout your garden.

Standing Water in Yard

If water stands in your yard for hours or even days after a moderate rain, you have poor drainage, which can be caused by heavy, compacted soils or improper grading. If this occurs near your home's foundation, it can lead to nasty moisture issues in your basem*nt or crawlspace.