If your entire yard is low-lying and has dense soil (such as clay or peat), you may find that even a good drain system doesn't keep it from becoming a bit soggy at intervals. If you're in this situation, you'll want to choose your plants and landscaping features carefully.
Here are some tips for landscaping if you have a swampy yard.
1. Choose plants that don't rot easily
Root rot and crown rot (rot at the base of the plant) can both kill landscaping plants. Some plants are more susceptible to these types of issues than others, however. If you choose water-loving plants such as daylilies and hibiscus for your marshy yard, rather than rot-susceptible plants such as succulents, you can often avoid these issues.
2. Consider raised beds or containers
If you just have to have some cactus or succulents or other plants that won't do well in a soggy area, build a raised bed for them with extremely well-drained soil. Or even better, plant your cactus in a tall plant pot with well-drained potting mixture in it. This will help keep the plant's roots out of the soggy ground.
3. Avoid exposed soil or lightweight mulch
If the ground is already soggy, a heavy rain can carry away the top layer of soil that much more easily. So, you won't want to have any exposed areas in places that are often soggy and that flood easily. Mulch can help cover the soil to prevent erosion, but you'll want to avoid any mulch that may float, such as pine straw, rubber mulch, or shredded bark mulch. Stone mulches, landscape fabric, or heavier-weight bark mulch can have better performance for erosion prevention.
4. Add raised stone paths
If your yard is swampy, you're probably tired of walking around in mud. And in fact, muddy areas aren't great for your yard either; a muddy pathway can contribute to erosion. If you install a slightly raised path made of stones, you can reduce the effects. Large stones are the least likely to wash away, and crushed gravel is less likely to roll off the path than more rounded pea gravel. Flagstones or stepping stones can also make a great stone path for muddy areas.
These tips can help you make the most of a soggy yard. By playing to its strengths and avoiding any unsightly mud or erosion, you can keep even a very wet backyard looking lovely. Get in touch with a local landscaping services contractor today to discuss landscaping projects for your marshy yard.
