Here in Corpus Christi, it’s possible to maintain a beautiful yard and landscape despite severe thunderstorms and hurricane season that bring hail, high winds and torrential rain to our backyards.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can make sure your yard can withstand the forces of Mother Nature year-round.
Lawn
If you plan to reseed your lawn in the spring, be sure to check the weather forecast to ensure that rainy weather isn’t right around the corner. It’s never a good idea to plant seeds or small bedding plants right before severe storms. Heavy rains will wash away seed and fertilizer, and hail and winds will destroy tender bedding plants that haven’t had a chance to get established.
When possible, apply mulches or ground cloth, such as hemp netting, to further protect fragile topsoil from pounding rains. These will hold plantings in place as well as prevent rainwater from washing away topsoil and soil amendments.
Regular lawn feeding and composting can help build a stronger root system, which will also make plantings stronger in high winds or heavy rains.
Landscaping & Trees
It’s a good idea to get large trees inspected periodically by a certified arborist. High winds can bring down dead limbs or big, unsupported branches. If there are weak limbs or other areas that might pose a hazard to your property, you can get those removed during good weather, so high winds and heavy rains don’t do the work for you.
When thinking about new trees for your landscape, you should purchase healthy trees from a reputable nursery. The best choices for the Corpus Christi area are those with strong trunks and broad root systems, such as Magnolias and Live Oaks. Avoid weaker, fast-growing trees that can snap in high winds.
Also, think about young trees that don’t have the strength to handle severe weather. You can brace them with tree stakes and wires after planting to ensure they can develop a strong root system. After they get established, be sure to remove these supports so that the trunk can naturally adapt to high winds and grow stronger on its own.
Drainage
Having proper drainage is important to protect both your home and your garden. Be sure you haven’t built up garden beds or other landscape features in such a way that rainwater or runoff gets directed towards your foundation or patios without anywhere to drain.
French drains are a special kind of drain that draw ground water and pooling surface water away from your home. They can also help redirect water that pools in the middle of your yard. You can also add soil or raised beds to eliminate sunken areas and prevent extra water from collecting where it isn’t wanted.
Avoiding erosion
All plants help prevent heavy rains from washing away soil from your yard and garden. Their root systems act like a mesh that hold the dirt together. Consider uprooting dead shrubs or digging up garden beds in the winter months when the threat of severe weather is lowest.
Also, hold off on seeding or replanting hilly areas or slopes during the wet-weather season. If you have areas that regularly deal with runoff, you can install rock gardens that will help catch water and prevent erosion on inclines.
To further reduce the risk of erosion, you can plant fast-growing ground cover plants around trees and in other areas where grass hasn’t taken root.
Hurricane preparedness
When a hurricane heads to the Corpus Christi area, be sure to remove all loose garden decorations, hanging plants, small potted plants, and unsecured garden tools. These seemingly innocuous objects can become projectiles in high winds.
Protect small plants with barriers made from bags of potting soil or mulch, and stake small trees and other plants to make sure winds don’t blow them over.
Lawncare services
At ABC Home and Commercial Services Corpus Christi, we want to help you maintain a beautiful lawn year-round. Contact us for mowing, fertilizing and other lawn care services, and be sure to schedule an inspection from one of our tree specialists to make sure your trees are prepared to withstand the next round of severe weather.