The gardener’s guide to surviving heavy storms and waterlogged lawns

As extreme weather intensifies, bringing heavy storms, high winds, and flooding, gardeners must take precautions to safeguard their outdoor spaces. To help prepare, I consulted experts for a three-pronged approach. First, secure fixtures, lighting, and furniture. Jon Saeed, from Lighting Legends, advises checking outdoor furniture and plant pots for vulnerability to strong winds.

Store smaller items in a shed or garage and secure heavier furniture to prevent tipping. Bring cushions and decorative rugs indoors or into waterproof containers. For lighting, check hooks and supports, unplug lights, and take down string lights before strong winds arrive. Use lights rated for wet and windy conditions (IP65 rating).

Next, manage your plants and soil. Avoid mowing wet grass, as it compacts the soil and hinders growth. Stake or cage vulnerable plants like tomatoes and peppers. Cover tender plants with row covers or move container plants to a sheltered area. Keep an eye out for fungal disease, treat promptly with organic fungicide, and weed between showers.

Finally, flood-proof your yard. Chris Bonnet from Gardening Express suggests creating a rain garden—a shallow basin filled with flood-tolerant plants—such as carex, acorus, daylilies, marsh marigold, lady’s smock, and New England aster. These plants thrive in waterlogged conditions and absorb up to 30% more water than lawn. Additionally, consider adding more drought-tolerant plants to your garden to handle extreme heat and heavy rain.