Gardening

What Causes Waterlogging In Your Garden (And What Can You Do)?

Waterlogging is a big problem in some gardens. If you don’t stay on top of it and find ways to prevent it, excess water can kill your lawn and all of your plants. You won’t be able to get much use out of the garden if it’s like a swamp either. That’s why it’s important to work out the root cause of waterlogging and take steps to prevent it. These are some of the most common reasons for waterlogging in your garden.

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Poor Drainage

This is probably the most common reason for waterlogging. If rainwater or irrigation from a hose doesn’t drain away easily, there’s a good chance that your soil has become saturated and will soon turn into a boggy mess if something isn’t done.

One of the easiest ways to tell if there’s a drainage problem in your garden is to dig out small holes about 10cm (4 inches) wide and fill them with water. Look at how quickly it drains away. If you find yourself standing over soggy soil an hour later, it’s clear that you’ve got problems with poor drainage. You can also test by running water across the surface of the ground; wherever it pools, those are likely spots where things aren’t draining properly. This is a particular problem with sloped gardens as water can easily pool at the bottom, so you have to make extra sure that the drainage is good.

The good news is that the solution to drainage problems is often simple and inexpensive. If you have a problem spot, it’s usually enough just to build up the soil in that area with better topsoil or compost so that there are no wet areas when you pour water across it. You can also break up the soil with soil aerators. This will increase the number of drain holes in your garden so water has more places to go instead of building up in one place.

Leaking Septic Tanks

If you do have a serious drainage problem but you’ve already added topsoil and filled in puddles, there’s a chance that an old septic tank is leaking. Septic tanks are buried in the ground so it can be hard to tell if they’re still working properly or not. You may only find out after water has been draining into your garden for years, turning it into a swampy mess. If you notice foul-smelling water pooling in the garden, you need to get in touch with professional septic services and get them to take a look. A leaking septic tank can become a health hazard, so you need to have yours cleaned and maintained regularly.

Rising Groundwater

It’s not uncommon for water to seep up through the ground even if you don’t have any drainage problems. Areas that are lower than nearby lakes or streams may find that high groundwater causes pooling in your yard during periods of heavy rain.

Groundwater can occur at any level of slope and is particularly common on hills. If you find that the same spot in your yard is always wet, there’s a good chance that groundwater may be to blame. You need to get professional help if this is the case as you’ll need to install drainage systems so water doesn’t pool in these areas.

If you notice waterlogging in your garden, you need to do something about it right away before the problem spirals out of control.

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