As temperatures get warmer in Ohio, and spring arrives, the more people want to get outside, and prep their homes and gardens for summer. As you begin planting flowers, plants, and trees that will accent your garden beds, backyard, and home's exterior, remember: there's more to landscaping than just growing your curb appeal.

Properly landscaping the perimeter of your home can help prevent flooding your yard that then leaches through your foundation into your home, creating basement flooding and water damage. This water can come from periods of severe weather or accidental water hazards, such as a neighbor's above-ground pool bursting and flooding onto your property. If you've never taken water damage precautions with flood resistant landscape techniques to help protect your home, spring and summer are a great time to do so. Look up your address on the Ohio flood map to discover if your home is at a higher risk. Follow these tips flood prevention landscaping techniques to protect your home.

  1. Level a sloping yard. To avoid incoming water, the ground should always slope away from your home in all directions. Locate the high and low points of your home and use extra dirt to slope the yard away from your house. This way, melting snow and rain will flow away from your home and basement, preventing flooding in your home. Work with a professional to make sure vents, basement windows, pipes, drains, and other areas aren't negatively impacted during the grading process.

  2. Choose local plants that prevent flooding in your yard.  Indigenous plants can help to prevent soil erosion while also allowing rainwater to drain more efficiently. Plants native to Ohio can help prevent erosion and reduce flooding in your home. These can often be found at local plant nurseries. For more information about plants local to your part of Ohio, click here.

  3. Using mulch in the garden can prevent water from flowing toward your home. In garden areas graded away from your home, fill with a few inches of mulch. This will help keep soil in place and hold in rainwater. If mulching near your home, make sure the mulch is at least six inches from your siding to avoid moisture wicking and rotting of your home's exterior.

  4. Planting new grass can reduce the impact of floods. The root structure of grass can help absorb water. It's important to research what kind of grass would be most effective for your area. Once it grows in, avoid cutting your lawn too short, which weakens the roots and can lead to flooding in your yard, and possibly your home.

  5. Learn what to plant in a rain garden. Rain gardens are the perfect solution for curbing erosion and improving water quality. They collect rainwater and water that runs from your gutters and downspouts, creating a runoff, filtering it away from your house. They are often created in shallow, landscaped depressions, which helps to naturally absorb rainwater in the ground.

  6. Add drainage areas near driveways. Paved driveways can quickly lead to rainwater runoff, which can increase your home's risk for flooding. Installing a gravel or spaced paver driveway are two options.For something less expensive, consider adding drainage next to your driveway by way of channel drains, pavers, or other landscaping-based solutions.

  7. Learn how to install a rain barrel.  Rain barrels, which are placed at the bottom of downspouts to collect the water, are a great way to redirect moisture and protect your home from flooding. As an added bonus, rain barrels allow an eco-friendly way to water your gardens and lawn when it's dry out. They also decrease pollution runoff into lakes and natural waterways.

  8. Know how to test your sump pump. A well-maintained sump pump will ensure that your basement stays dry by directing water out of your basement and away from your home. A sump pump can mean the difference between proper water flow and costly water damage. It's important to check your sump pump to make sure everything is in proper working order. If you don't have a sump pump, you might want to see if getting one is right for you.

Double Check Your Progress

Once you've completed the above checklist, be sure to do regular maintenance at the beginning of each season change. Excessive rain, snow, or even droughts can create natural changes to your landscaping. Be aware about where rainwater and groundwater are pooling to best keep your home protected from unnecessary water damage. For more information on how landscaping and local plants can help prevent flooding, ask the experts at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Did Your Home Flood Because of Your Sloped Yard?

Contact Roth. Flooding in your home can be stressful. It's important to call in a professional quickly to prevent further damage and for faster cleanup and repairs. At Roth Companies, our trained and certified staff can handle water damage from flooded basements, leaky roofs, broken pipes, and even faulty landscaping.

Call 800-874-3473 Roth Companies and Roth Construction Company services water, fire, smoke damage restoration and remediation for Cleveland, Elyria, Akron, Canton, Sandusky, Youngstown, OH, Ohio areas

Our team of experts are available to provide water damage remediation service to your residential or commercial property. Let us help get your home back to pre-loss condition. We proudly service the Cleveland, Elyria, and surrounding Ohio areas.