Extended periods of near-freezing temperatures and record-breaking rainfall have led to abnormally muddy and erosive conditions across the Triangle. You may find yourself looking at your yard in dismay this spring; mucky sediment has settled in low spots, topsoil has eroded away, grass has died from anoxic soil conditions, mulched beds are in dire shape—the list goes on. What landscaping improvements can we make this spring and summer to help prevent these issues during the next tough winter? More broadly, how can we make our yards more resilient while reducing annual maintenance burdens? Consider these landscaping improvements to help your yard remain resilient and beautiful year-round.
Think about converting that stubborn low spot in the lawn into an environmentally and visually pleasing rain garden. A rain garden is a depressed garden bed intended to capture and infiltrate storm runoff. Not only do rain gardens help mitigate excess runoff, but they can be planted with beautiful grasses and perennial flowers that attract pollinators and songbirds. Building a modest rain garden is a manageable DIY project or can be planned and executed by a professional landscaper.
Properly maintained gutters, downspouts, and conveyance pipes are critical to ensure that concentrated roof runoff doesn’t create problems. If your downspouts currently terminate above ground, you may want to add French drains at downspouts or adjacent to pavement to help water infiltrate the ground. If gutters are constantly in need of cleaning, perhaps it’s time to hire a tree service to remove any trees or branches that have extended over your home. Besides reducing leaves on your roof, this may prevent roof damage during a severe storm.
Maintaining a yard of green grass may seem like a never-ending uphill battle for neighborhood vanity, but it’s important to remember that grasses are our best tool for maintaining soil stability and quality. If you’ve lost grass and topsoil due to excess rain, it may be time to top-dress those areas with a mixture of compost and sand to reestablish the grade and provide a fresh layer for new grass seed or sod to take root. Top-dressing is a labor-intensive process best left to professionals, but it can provide long-term benefits for your yard.
In addition to designing and building award-winning custom homes, Bost Custom Homes performs executive renovations of existing homes, inside and out.
EVAN BOST is the director of marketing and building performance at BOST CUSTOM HOMES. For more information, call 919-460-1983 or visit BOSTHOMES.COM.