• slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide
  • slide

Water Problems in Your Landscape and Solutions

Don’t let standing water, seasonal flooding, and poorly drained soils stop you from growing a beautiful landscape.  Try one of these strategies to manage the excess water and create a healthy environment for your landscape plants.

Raise the plants above the water.  Create berms and raised beds so the plant roots are growing above the seasonal standing water. 

Create a traditional French drain in areas subject to flooding.  These gravel filled trenches capture excess water and hold it below the soil surface so it can gradually seep into the ground below.

Or create a rain garden.  They’re designed to capture runoff from roofs and hard surfaces that occurs after a rainstorm or water that naturally collects in low spots in the yard. They direct rainwater into the ground instead of the storm sewers.

And always call 811 before digging in.  This free utility locating service can save you money and even your life.

A bit more information: For areas with damp soil select plants tolerant of moist or wet soils.  These include plants such as dogwoods, chokeberry, elderberry, swamp milkweed, turtlehead, Ligularia, marsh marigold, Japanese and Siberian iris, sedges, and rushes.  Make sure the plants are hardy to your area and tolerate the light and other growing conditions in that part of your landscape. For more plant suggestions, review lists of garden plants for your region.

Upcoming Webinars & Appearances


March 25, 2023
OCMGA Annual Garden Conference
Appleton, Wisconsin

March 26, 2023
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

March 29, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Gardening Basics to Boost Your Success
Register now

April 1, 2023

REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, Wisconsin

April 5, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
What's New - Discover
New & Unique Plants!
Register now

April 11, 2023

Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association's 2023 Speaker Series
Darmstadt, Indiana
 

April 18, 2023
FREE WEBINAR: 
Growing a Bountiful Harvest even when Time, Space & Budget are Limited

Register now

April 20, 2023
SC Johnson Golden Rondelle Theater Speaker Series
Racine, WI
Register now

April 22, 2023
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL

April 25, 2023
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Grand Rapids, MI

Watch Melinda's past webinars ON DEMAND

Learn More

Book an Appearance

Learn More

Enter to Win Melinda's Container Gardening Tips & Techniques DVD set

ENTER NOW