Feeling soggy? We hear you.
The National Weather Service declared 2018 as the wettest year on record for the nation's capital, with more than 60 inches of rain.
The record-breaking rain has saturated communities throughout the mid-Atlantic.
Now it’s spring — the rainy season.
Is your landscape prepared? Here’s a look at the soggy situation — and what to do about it.
The Problem: Weeds, Weeds, Weeds
Weeds love rain. All those weed seeds waiting for warm spring temperatures so they can sprout are pretty happy right now.
The Solution: We’re already on it.
Our crews are already out spraying pre-emergent weed killer, the first line of defense against spring weeds.
We apply a mix of pre-emergent weed killer and slow-release fertilizer in granular form between March 15 and early April.
This targets weed seeds before they germinate, so pesky weeds don’t even have a chance to sprout.
This pre-emergent herbicide kills crabgrass — one of the big problem weeds in our area.
But we’re not done yet.
We’ll repeat the same process at the beginning of May.
Actually, it’s a continuous battle. Most of our customers get four rounds of turf treatment throughout the year.
The healthier your turf is, the better it can crowd out weeds and resist disease.
The Problem: Drainage
Puddles are sticking around. And around. It doesn’t take much for water to back up when the ground is already this saturated.
Get a jump on this. If you have drainage problems now, they’ll only get worse.
If water backs up into planting beds, it can cause root rot.
Wet grass means more weeds.
Without proper water management, excess water can cause serious damage to your commercial property. Mold and mildew. Cracks in your building, driveways and sidewalks. And excess water is an invitation for pests like rodents and bugs.
The Solution:
Our crews and account managers are always on the lookout for drainage issues. We can suggest a variety of drainage solutions that will get your property back on solid, not squishy, ground.
The Problem: Toppled Trees
Mucky, water-saturated soil is less stable. And once trees leaf out, there’s more wind resistance. Trees could topple in a stiff wind.
The Solution:
Our crews can clear your property of small fallen trees or limbs that pose a hazard. If a large tree is down, or leaning precariously, we’ll call on a trusted tree removal subcontractor to handle the task.
The Problem: Plant Diseases
Plants that are already susceptible to mildew and mold-related plant diseases like black spot and powdery mildew will really be targets this year.
Plants without good drainage, maybe planted poorly, could suffer from root rot.
The Solution:
Most fungal diseases are treatable with fungicides, and some issues will resolve themselves as drier weather sets in. We can set up a treatment plan as part of our enhancement services.
The Problem: Erosion
You might notice pathways or other hardscape start to sink if rain has washed out the soil underneath.
If foundation soil is washed out, pavement can cave in and become uneven — a major tripping hazard.
The Solution:
We can pull up damaged concrete, reset the grade, fix drainage issues and re-pour the concrete.
Keep That Umbrella Handy
Landscapes are pretty soggy as we head into spring, and April and May are usually wet months for us here in the Northeast.
June and July could be wet, too, if the weather is anything like last year.
Bottom line: There could be a lot more water coming our way.
Trust Your Rain-Weary Landscaping to Level Green
Rain happens. We can’t change the forecast, but we have the skilled crews and knowledge to tackle your property’s rain-related problems.
Our goal: a safe, healthy, beautiful landscape — rain or shine.
If you’re not already a Level Green Landscaping client, we’d love to add you to our growing list of happy customers.
Our focus is on commercial properties like offices, mixed-use sites, HOAs, municipalities and institutions in Maryland, Washington DC and parts of Virginia.
Contact us at 202-544-0968.
You can also request a free consultation online to meet with us one-on-one.
We’d love to hear from you.
Image sources: puddle, powdery mildew
