Homeowners are encouraged to whack on their wellies and get their hands dirty to improve the flood resilience of their gardens as part of the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week (13-19 October).
After several named storms last winter, communities have been warned not to become complacent about the risk of flooding and to start preparing their homes for wet weather, especially by signing up for flood alerts via gov.uk.
But the right plants can help an ordinary garden to recover better and more quickly from periods of heavy rainfall, reducing the risk of flooding and mitigating damage to property.
Certain plants act as natural sponges that absorb water through their roots and leaves, slow water flow, and enhance the absorption of the soil, improving the flood resilience of a garden while adding a dash of character.
Here are five plants to get gardens of all sizes flood ready:
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River Birch (Betula nigra) – fast-growing, medium-sized tree with shallow roots that stabilise soil and absorb significant amounts of water.
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Dogwood (Cornus sericea) – vibrant red shrub whose fibrous roots help prevent soil erosion.
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Mace Sedge (Carex grayi) – tough grass that grows in tufts with dense stems, slowing the flow of water to encourage gradual draining.
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Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) – perennial that flowers yellow and stabilises wet soil.
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Red Bistort (Bistorta amplexicaulis) – shrub suited to groundcover in wet areas and attractive to pollinators.
These plantings work best in combination with other flood protection measures, such as checking your flood risk, signing up for flood warnings, and preparing a flood plan.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:
Dusting off your spades can help to better protect your home and garden from flooding this winter.
Simple steps like choosing the right plants to put in your garden will get it ready for heavy rainfall and help it recover from intense wet weather.
I urge everyone to do what they can to protect themselves from flooding this winter, such as by checking your flood risk, signing up for flood warnings, and preparing a flood plan.
Donna Bowles, Estates Manager at Howbery Business Park, said:
We feel very fortunate that Flood Re chose our grounds for the permanent home of the Flood Resilient Garden – originally on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. People can see here how it’s possible to create a garden that is lovely to look at, as well as being practical and resilient.
The garden’s design helps slow the flow of water to help manage the risk of flooding, using features such as wide gutters, tanks and a pond. Plants and trees contribute too, by capturing and absorbing rain as it falls, so that some rainwater never reaches the ground.
The UK is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather due to climate change and the Met Office has warned of a wetter than average autumn this year.
Groundbreaking data shows that around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water – yet polling shows 45% of the public have not looked up the flood risk for their home.
Alongside encouraging public action, the government has announced that England’s poorest communities will benefit from the easier and faster building of new flood defences and over 24,000 homes and businesses have been protected from floods in the government’s first year of power.
