One of the areas of your home that might get overlooked is your landscape. Since it’s outside, you probably don’t think about it that much until you go outdoors for something and realize it doesn’t quite look the way you want it to. Fortunately, there are plenty of landscape design ideas that you can consider, so you’ll be able to have a great looking outdoor area even when the wet season threatens to flood out your yard and make it difficult for some plants to survive. Here are five ideas you can use that will help keep things looking the way you want, and that will also help to protect the soil in your yard.
1. Does using native plants matter?
Using plants that are native to the area you live in can make a big difference. They grow better there because it’s where they belong, so you won’t have as many issues with them either dying out or simply not thriving in their location. They also hold onto soil well in many cases, since their roots will spread out as they grow and develop. If there are native plants that are larger or that have big root systems, you’ll want to work with them, since they can provide you with more protection and coverage for your soil. The kind of soil you have in your yard will depend on where you live, but you want to make sure that soil is protected and preserved as much as possible. Rain can wash it away, especially in winter, but plants are a great choice to help with that.
2. Can you make a rock garden for drainage?
When you have purchased a home and you need to make it feel like your own, landscaping can really make a difference. The kind of landscaping you choose should fit the look of your home and your lifestyle. Nearly any landscape can work in a rock garden, and having that kind of garden will give you excellent drainage from the El Nino rains. Unlike a normal rain storm, an El Nino season can mean significant rain all winter long. Sometimes that makes it difficult for a yard to dry out at all between storms, so the ground just keeps getting wetter and wetter. With that in mind there needs to be a decorative, nice looking way for the water to drain away, and a rock garden is definitely among the options for providing that.
3. Is it time for a rock wall?
Another way you can improve your landscape during the rainy season is through the use of a rock wall. These walls can help you keep some of the extra water off of your property, and they can also be used as a way to divert water so that it flows somewhere else. By building a beautiful rock wall, you’ll change the look of the landscape and the flow of the water, helping it make its way to a location that works better for you. Just make sure you don’t send it right onto a neighbor’s property, or you may get some complaints. The same is true if the water flows right out into the street, so check to see where the flow of water will be directed before you make any solid plans to create your rock wall.
4. Maybe grass isn’t such a good idea?
If you’re not sure what kind of landscaping you want to have, you may want to consider options that are different from the typical, grassy lawn. Grass is pretty to look at and soft under foot, but it can also catch and retain quite a bit of water. To help avoid that problem, you may not want to use a lot of grass in your lawn. There are ways to aerate it so it drains better, too, although they may not be enough for winter and all the rain it can bring with it. You probably don’t want to tear up your grass and put in something else, but you may not want to add to the problem by putting in more grass where there isn’t any now. The choice is up to you, but you can reduce the problem of a waterlogged landscape by reducing the amount of grass you have on your property.
5. Should you have a water feature?
There are some great design ideas you can use when you buy a home and want to make it feel more comfortable, or look the way you would like it to. One of those is a water feature in your yard or garden. During winter, you won’t even really have to do much to maintain it, because there will be plenty of water to keep it operating. As you work with your water feature, consider where you want it to be placed and if the water will flow to another location or simply recirculate like it would with a fountain. You have the option of creating a feature that will do either one, so select the feature that will work the best for you anytime of the year, and not just in the winter season. It won’t always be this wet, and your water feature will still have to be maintained.
