It’s no secret that areas of Western New York got hit with rain big-time over the course of the past few days. Our thoughts are with all of the individuals affected by the flooding and we hope that they’re back on their feet sooner rather than later.
For homeowners who were spared damage to their homes and those curious as to how to go about fixing a flood-damaged yard, we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help you get your yard back to health following all the rain in Buffalo, NY area this summer.
What does flood-damaged grass look like?
Water temperature, depth of water, and duration of flooding all play key roles in determining the extent of the damage a flood can inflict on your lawn. Generally speaking, if floods occur in cooler months when the grass is more dormant, there is a better chance for survival, but when flooding occurs during the summer months, it may be unable to take up nutrients from the soil due to lack of oxygen and turn brown.
In the event, your yard has been flooded for several days, it’s best to wait until grass revives once the water recedes and the area dries out. The best course of action is waiting several weeks after the floodwaters leave. No new green growth from the turfgrass means it died and needs replacement.
To determine if your grass plants were killed by the floodwaters, pull up a few plants from the area and cut a horizontal cross-section through the crowns. If the crown section remains white and firm, the plant has survived the flooding. However, if the section is mushy and brown, the plant is dead and new plantings are required.
Post-Flood Cleanup Steps
Step 1: Clear Major Debris
Once you’re able to walk around your yard and start assessing the damage, begin to remove any scattered debris. Make sure to inspect for glass, nails or other safety hazards for you and any of your pets. Remove any dead leaves or other objects that may smother the grass.
This is also a great time to inspect the areas of your yard that have poor drainage as they’ll be the last areas with standing water.
Step 2: Remove Silt Deposits
After your yard is free of debris, it’s important to scrape off any soil or silt left in your yard by flooding. While it’s tempting to simply rake the deposits into your yard as topsoil, this material lacks organic material and doesn’t help the grass grow. The chances of having a lot of silt or soil covering your yard after a flood are greater if the flooding occurred as a result of a flooded waterway.
Step 3: Aerate
Once you see new growth start appearing in your lawn, go over the entire area with a core aerator. This process will help improve the structure of the soil, improve the levels of oxygen and break up any layering caused by soil deposits.
After aerating the soil, apply a lawn fertilizer according to the directions.
Step 4: Reseed, Resod, or Start Fresh
Sit back and monitor your lawn’s growth over the course of a few weeks to see just how much damage has occurred. After a few weeks, you’ll be able to see if you need a new lawn, or it can be recovered by reseeding or applying some new sod.
If you come to the conclusion that your lawn is damaged beyond repair, contact us and we’ll work with you to help get your yard back to looking great.