Here at Peer Landscaping, we believe landscape designs in Florida should involve water management. Whether you’re dealing with water features, coastal proximity, drainage and irrigation issues, storm weather, or drought-tolerant landscaping, we always consider designing your landscape around water. Read on as we explain how we can incorporate water management into your landscape design.
Types of Water Management
Here in Fort Myers and really in all of the communities in Southwest Florida you’ll see house after house with lush tropical greenery. Achieving that look isn’t always easy, especially if water management isn’t considered. Whether or not you live next to a body of water, you’re dealing with the torrential rains that can occur in our sub-tropical climate and ironically, at times, a lack of rain. Water management comes in two primary forms: lack of water and flooding. But both of those conditions can be solved by the way your yard is landscaped, including how your irrigation system is designed and in some cases, your yard may need drainage designed as part of it.
The Cost of Drought
Even if we populate your outdoor landscape with tropical plants native to this area, they can suffer from lack of water during the winter months, when we often experience days without rain. That means you should consider having irrigation system installed by trained professionals. Using an irrigation system designed specifically for your lawn and gardens is a major upgrade over the sprinklers you can buy in a store or using a hose. It’s also more efficient. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) homeowners use 9 billion gallons of water every year, representing about 30% of all residential water use. A professionally designed and installed irrigation system will do a better job and lower your utility bills.
In addition, you may have areas of your lawn that drain away more water than others, we will take note of the areas that hold water and those who’s drainage leaves the sandy soil relatively drier. We will suggest plants, shrubs and trees that do better with less water and plant those in the correct areas of your lawn.
The Cost of Flooding
On the other hand, if your yard is suffering from flooding issues, you could be looking at property damage and having to pay insurance deductibles. And if your lawn holds water for long periods of time in certain areas, we need to talk about drainage and in some cases having pumps installed to keep those areas from holding standing water. There’s nothing like a puddle that lasts for days or weeks to increase our mosquito population. Not something you want if you are planning on enjoying your backyard.
Assessing Water Runoff and Drainage
Here in Southwest Florida, we are known for having long periods of wet weather followed by lengthy dry spells. Unfortunately, that means water needed to sustain your plant life is not always available when needed. One of the first things we do when looking at your yard is assess the areas where there is stormwater runoff and where the water drains best. Often people think the reason their grass is brown is because it’s not getting enough water, but the truth is, it can just as easily be brown due to its roots rotting because that area of lawn is constantly wet because of poor drainage.
If you do indeed have an area that is constantly wet, one solution could be for us to create a rain garden, which allows rainwater to run off from man-made areas of your outdoor landscape, such as driveways, sidewalks and even roofs. Don’t let the name—rain garden—fool you; when designed correctly, these areas are designed to stay dry rather than wet. When installed by our professional and experienced landscapers, your rain garden in Fort Myers can help redirect water while also improving the aesthetics of your landscape.
A rain garden is just one of the greener options to solve your water management problem. Other solutions include rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and drip irrigation. Finding an environmentally friendly solution to a water management solution also can help protect your home against flooding, which does more than $260 billion in damage per year according to FEMA. The right landscaping choices can reduce your risk of flooding
Clear Away Obstructions
Once our professional landscapers have assessed water runoff on your property, any obstructions in the path of the water must be cleared to ensure that proper drainage stays that way over time. That involves you taking care of the following regularly:
- Having your gutters cleaned at least twice per year.
- Removing debris like leaves, seeds, bird nesting materials, and sticks that can impede water flow.
- Checking any irrigation ditches or storm drains for obstructions before and after every storm.
- Weeds and overgrown plant vegetation can cause blocked water flow. That means proper leaf, grass trimming, and excess plant removal. It also includes pruning to prevent limb breakage, which could cause blockages, during storms.
To properly maintain your yard, debris should be bagged or compost. These checks also will grant you an opportunity to note any significant issues or maintenance problems—including structural damage to concrete, or drainage pipes. This is all of extreme importance If severe weather is expected. Tropical storms and hurricanes can be very destructive to homes in Florida meaning you need to act before one of these events to ensure drainage is functioning as intended.
Utilizing Natural Plant Life
An experienced landscape design professional like the ones at Peer Landscaping will be able to utilize a wide variety of plant material that naturally occurs in Florida. Once established, properly placed native plants may need little irrigation, depending upon the yard’s commission. For example, a deeper root system can assist by providing a path for water to travel into the ground. We can install shrubs, perennials, and trees, all of which will have deeper root systems than traditional turfgrass. From palms to fruit trees, there are options for native ways to increase the amount of shade and help your yard beat the heat. Planting a wide plethora of flowering plants, grasses, shrubs, ornamentals, cacti, and succulents also can help redirect the flow of water throughout your yard.
Contact a Professional
You want your yard to look its best, while also saving money and helping the environment. Water management is a complicated matter that can be very difficult for a novice to figure out on their own. Even if you know the problems, finding a solution can be extremely difficult. That’s why a our knowledgeable landscape design expert can help you save.
Our landscape design professionals can find a balance between water usage and your yard’s needs. Contact Peer Landscaping today (239) 645-6455 for a consultation. We are proud to serve our local community in Fort Myers and the surrounding areas of Southwest Florida.