How to Restore your Garden After a Flood

Parts of the UK have been hit by heavy rainfall and flooding recently, and as a result, many gardeners have been left wondering how on earth their garden is going to recover from the flood damage.

If your garden has been affected, don’t panic. Follow our 10-step guide to restoring your garden after extreme weather.

1- Wash Down & Rinse Off

If you can, do this as soon as you can after the storm. Mud and salt spray can quickly spread disease, ruining foliage and plants within days.

2- Remove Damage

Larger trees and shrubs usually should be dealt with first. If major damage such as a downed tree has occurred, consider getting a professional in to help you.

3- Recycle Debris

Soil and plant materials left over from flooding makes great compost. Save as much as you can, and it can be applied to the garden as soon as the composting process is complete.

4- Water Plants

While it might seem an odd thing to do after relentless flooding, your plants do need to be rinsed off of mud and pollutants.

5- Do Not Apply Fertilizer

As fertilizer is composed largely of salt, adding fertilizer can actually increase damage to your garden.

6- Keep off the Grass

Wait for the weather to improve before wheeling your barrow across the damp lawn. Patience is essential for a gardener, especially after extreme damage.

7- Re-pot Plants

If your potted plants have been saturated, simply replace the soil entirely. If left, salt can limit plant growth and health.

8- Prune

Hard pruning after storm damage can add additional stress onto plants so be careful as you prune. If in doubt, remove the bare minimum.

9- Recover Vegetables

If you have produce growing in your garden, it’s likely that it will have been contaminated by sewage, chemicals or oil. Recycle your crops and plan for next year instead.

10- Prepare

If flooding has damaged your garden, unfortunately, it’s likely that it will happen again. You may want to consider installing artificial grass. While it is by no means floodproof, once the water has drained, you will be left with the same lush, green lawn you had before. The most you will need to do is rake off mulch and leaves that have been leftover from the storm.