They say the only sure things in life are death and taxes. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you know that rain should be added to the list. While we’re happy to see the end of winter, we know that spring will bring plenty of rainy days ahead.

When it comes to your landscaping, there are some things you can do to prepare for the rain and make sure your landscape still looks good when the sun comes back around. Here are a few things we’d recommend you do for rain management.

Incorporate More Trees

Trees can be really helpful for areas that get a lot of rain. That’s because the trees will actually help absorb some of the rain before it falls down to the ground. Even the rain that does reach the ground will likely be absorbed by the roots of the tree. Trees do a lot to protect your landscaping from heavy rainfal,l and when properly taken care of, they can add a lot of character to your landscaping.

Shrubbery can also help in the same way with rainfall. Alternatively, plain grass lawns can be easily damaged by rain. The diversity of landscaping needs to be considered to keep things healthy.

Map Out Rainfall Patterns

While most rain isn’t damaging to your landscaping, rain that pools into one section of your yard can be detrimental. Next time it rains, take a little bit of time to see what the path of the water is in your yard.

If you have a slope or a path that pushes the water in a certain direction, make sure you have something to absorb or move the water from that location. Obstacles can help block rain from pooling in a certain area.

Clean The Gutters

Fall and winter can leave a lot of debris in your gutters. There may be leaves or branches from the colder seasons that are now making it harder for the rainfall to go where you want it to. Make sure you spend some time clearing your gutters out. That might include trimming nearby trees that come in contact with your roof. After all, these branches can easily make a blockage when it rains, or wind moves the branches.

Consider a Rain Garden

While this requires a bit more effort, there are those who like to incorporate rain gardens in their background. These are designed to temporarily hold and soak in rainwater runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios, or lawns.

They can include native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in an area that has a natural slope. It’s essentially like making your own pond but not adding in the water yet. The water will come from the natural rain. That means that a lot of the time, this area will be dry or empty. However, it will fill up with enough rain.

Your Rain Management Plan

If you’re ready to make your landscaping work for the Pacific Northwest rain, reach out to us to get started.