Extreme Weather Is Threatening Our Gardens More Than Ever, So We’ve Turned to the Experts – They Share Proven Ways to Future-Proof Your Backyard
Now is the time to boost your yard's resilience to snow, flooding, and drought
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The current snowstorms raging through the US raise a concern for garden resilience. It's a valid point, as our backyards can take a beating from extreme weather of all kinds and are sometimes at risk of being wiped out entirely, leaving you with the costly job of starting over. That's why it's more important than ever to adopt methods to boost garden resilience in extreme weather, and we have expert methods that will work for every yard – the majority don't even require any gardening experience.
Whether you choose to switch up your backyard ideas to cope with snowstorms, flooding, or drought, or simply want to add just a few sustainable garden features to help ease the severity of damage from extreme weather, there is so much that can be done to make your garden more resilient.
How to Boost Garden Resilience – The First Steps
Future-proofing your yard for climate change takes you one step closer to a sustainable, low-effort garden
Before taking on the below tips to boost garden resilience in extreme weather, Caroline urges to first establish what it is you need to focus on in your yard.
'Analyze the garden and design for the environmental conditions it is most likely to face,' Caroline says.
'Is the garden subject to heavy rainfall and flooding? Is the climate dry and experiences frequent or lengthy periods of drought? Are the winters harsh and plants subject to deep freezes and heavy snow or ice? Are there risks of fire? The answers to these questions can guide the garden design,' she adds.
You should also consider your US hardness zone and which plants will thrive in your local clime.
No matter which of the above conditions are relevant to you, Caroline notes focussing on soil health and improving soil structure should be the number one priority.
'Plants will be stronger and more resilient if their soils are full of nutrients that they need,' she says.
Caroline Ervin studied landscape design at George Washington University. Since 2007, she has worked closely with her clients to design, install and maintain both small and large residential gardens in Washington, DC and its nearby suburbs. Travels to gardens throughout the US, as well in Europe, have added to her design background and understanding of historical gardens. She has over 20 years hands-on gardening experience.
Snowstorms and Blizzards
Just like it's important to prepare your home for a snowstorm, it's key to make sure your yard can handle heavy layers of snow and harsh frost. Here are three easy ways to do this:
1. Change Your Pruning Approach
Heavy snow can snap and break tree branches, creating a hazard in your yard
'If you're concerned about snow loading (i.e. the weight and pressure of snow on plants), change your pruning routine,' says landscape designer Paul Robbins
'Instead of usual pruning, adopt the 'transparency pruning' technique,' he describes.
This approach is all about improving your trees and shrubs ability to cope with heavy snow, in attempt to avoid broken branches and lessen the amount of snow to remove from trees.
'You'll need to prune the interior portion of the canopy of an evergreen tree, allowing wind and snow to pass through the tree rather than collecting and gathering on top,' Paul explains.
This can be especially useful for trees and shrubs to always remove snow from.
But of course, you should only do this within reason, to avoid making a pruning mistake for the needs of your specific trees and shrubs.
Essential pruning tools (like these bypass loppers from Amazon) will help prune tree branches correctly.
In any case, you shouldn't shake snow off tree branches as it can be hazardous and puts both you and the tree's health at risk.
Paul is an outdoor and landscape designer, as well as a deck-building expert. He's the CEO of Austin Fence & Deck Builders and Atlas Deck Builders, trusted outdoor construction companies serving Central Texas since 2015.
2. Put Windbreaks in Place
Take care to manage the weight of snow on structures like fences, too
'In areas with intense cold and snow, it's actually the wind that does the most damage to your plants,' says garden expert Lindsay Chastain, founder at The Waddle and Cluck.
In this case, it's important to enclose windy areas of the yard and put in protective measures to prevent wind rock, i.e. plant damage caused by swaying in intense wind.
'The cold wind can break and dry out plants, so use windbreaks (like garden fences) to block as much of that cold wind as possible,' suggests Lindsey.
Particularly tender plants can also be protected by creating barriers with trellises, for example, like this charming white lattice trellis on Wayfair. You can also try growing a living fence, using sturdy hedges.
'You should cover your most tender plants with a cold frame or portable greenhouse (like this from Amazon),' Lindsey adds.
Lindsey Chastain, a dedicated homesteader and skilled writer, is the driving force behind The Waddle and Cluck, a platform that celebrates sustainable living, gardening, and responsible farming
3. Mulch Beds and Borders
Fallen leaves make an ideal ingredient for mulch, you can even make leaf mold with them
'One of the most important things to do before a snowstorm is mulch deeply (2-4 inches hight) to protect the soil and plant bases from snow build-up,' says Lindsey.
Whether you use fallen leaves for mulch, use mulching mats (like these tree mulching mat from Lowe's), or use homemade compost, mulch can provide insulation and help retain moisture for plant roots, protecting them from snow.
It's for this reason it also isn't always necessary to remove snow from plants, as it can provide extra insulation and protect them from the harshest winds.
Pine bark (from Amazon) is a great mulching material to use because it's moisture retentive and improves soil structure as it decomposes.
Heavy Rainfall and Flooding
When it comes to extreme rainfall, there are plenty of ways to make your yard flood-resilient and reduce water surface runoff. From plants that an cope with wet conditions to clever drainage solutions, here's what the experts recommend:
1. Use Green Infrastructure to Cope with Floods
A swale is a low-cost, sustainable alternative to drainage system reliant on pipes
'For flood-prone gardens, it's important to slow, filter, and redirect runoff, or to capture it to increase filtration and soil moisture,' says Caroline Ervin. 'Managing floodwater with green infrastructure helps build resilience in the landscape,' she adds.
Things like a French drain, for example, provides an intentional flooding spot to redirect surface water. It works well in rain garden design, alongside French drain alternatives like a swale, a shallow, vegetated channel.
'I suggest creating bioretention gardens, which are planted, shallow depressions in the ground designed to collect and slowly drain stormwater,' says Caroline. 'Plants must be adaptable to both wet and dry conditions in this context,' she adds.
Luckily, there's a long list of flood-resilient plants that will thrive in this kind of design, including astilbe (view the selection at Nature Hills) and camassia (which you can grow from seed with these camassia seeds from Amazon).
2. Grow Plants That Improve Soil Structure
A mix of gravel and ornamental grasses can boost your yard's flood resilience
There are so many plants that improve soil quality and structure through their root systems, and when it comes to heavy rainfall and flooding this can be helpful in managing excess water.
'Use plants that will help hold soil (preventing erosion), improve drainage, and slow water flow, and that can tolerate flooding,' says Caroline. 'Ornamental grasses (like sedges and rushes) with their expansive root systems are good selections for flood prone areas,' she suggests.
Explore the range of ornamental grasses at Nature Hills to find the right fit for your yard's landscape.
You should also consider bulbs that naturalize and spread (as well as tolerate wetter conditions) to bring color to your yard while supporting a healthy soil structure. Two top picks are snake's head fritillary (find bulbs at Amazon) and canna lilies (find bulbs at Amazon).
3. Improve Lawn Drainage
Oversaturated lawns feel spongey, often turn yellow, and might have fungi growth
Often, your lawn can be a place where excess water gathers, especially if it has poor drainage. But, there are several ways to improve lawn drainage so you don't end up with oversaturated, discoloring grass, and soggy conditions where fungi may grow.
One of the best DIY lawn drainage solutions is using aeration tools. For example, you can simply using this push lawn aerator tool from Amazon across your lawn to loosen compacted soil by creating air pockets for excess water to drain into.
You can also create a soakaway, also known as a dry well, which is a large basin buried underground to capture and store excess water. The benefit of this is it then disperses the water to surrounding soil, aiding moisture management.
Extreme Heat and Drought
If you live in a hotter clime and experience long summers with a lack of rain, then it's time to turn your attention to drought-tolerant planting and preparing your yard for extreme heat. Here are three ways to get started:
1. Plant at High Density
There are so many ways to create a maximalist border
When it comes to extreme heat, Siobhan Shaw, sustainable gardening expert and founder of Growing to Give, says you need to 'protect plant roots first.'
'Extreme heat kills from the ground up, so our primary focus is keeping roots cool by eliminating bare soil and letting plants create their own protection,' Siobhan describes.
'You can do this by planting at high density, so foliage naturally closes in and creates garden shade for the soil,' she explains.
Strategically plant dense shrubs and ground cover plants to create natural shade in garden borders. Choosing woodland plants to grow in the lowest, shaded areas will help keep your yard looking luscious.
'Living ground cover forms as the plants grow, dramatically lowering soil temperatures and protecting root systems,' Siobhan adds.
There are plenty of ground cover plants that thrive on neglect if you're looking for something low-maintenance.
For example, lamb's ears (starter plant available on Amazon) can cope with hot temperatures, with its silvery, fuzzy foliage adapted to reflect sunlight and minimize moisture loss.
Siobhan is the co-founder of Growing to Give, a dynamic global nonprofit dedicated to transforming community-focused food security and agriculture through sustainable farming and gardening practices. Siobhan is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment in agriculture, mentoring women who aspire to careers in the field. Siobhan also continues her decades of podcasting as the host and co-producer of the health and well-being podcast titled Cancer Bites.
2. Use Targeted Irrigation
Drip irrigation effectively delivers water to plant roots slowly, reducing water waste
'Drought isn’t just about lack of water, it’s about loss. How water is delivered matters more than how much is applied,' Siobhan says.
For this reason, you can boost garden resilience in extreme heat and drought by using targeted irrigation methods, delivering water exactly where it needs to be for smart watering and to reduce water waste in the yard.
'We use targeted irrigation specially designed to reduce evaporation and ensure water stays where it’s needed, at the roots,' says Siobhan. 'Watering is done early in the morning during a heatwave, after sunset, directly at the roots, never on the plant canopy.
'Runoff is avoided by using irrigation systems that trap water at the root zone, encouraging deep watering and resilient root growth,' she explains.
You can also create a DIY drip irrigation system to make watering low-maintenance, simply using a water bottle. Or, use a drip irrigation kit from Amazon to set up automatic watering in your yard.
There are plenty of other DIY garden watering system ideas to explore, too.
3. Make Your Yard Fire Resistant
Plants with a high moisture content tend to catch fire more slowly, acting as a barrier
When we talk about extreme heat, a lot of us will think about drought-resistant planting, but fire-smart landscaping is just as important.
'All plants will burn in a wildfire, but to minimize the probability of wildfires igniting and spreading, especially to structures, there are some key considerations to keep in mind,' says Caroline Ervin.
'You should remove highly flammable plants, make sure planting isn't growing too close to structures, and avoid mass plantings by using rocks, gravel, and boulders to break it up,' she adds.
There are also more fire-resilient plants and fire-resilient trees you can opt for, and making sure to remove dead plants as soon as possible can prevent them quickly catching fire in extreme heat.
Other ways to fireproof your yard include choosing non-flammable outdoor furniture and using hardscaping as a firebreak.
Likewise avoid growing these plants in a wildfire risk area as they're particularly susceptible to catching alight.
FAQs
Can Trees Explode in a Snowstorm?
Yes, exploding trees is a phenomenon that happens during snowstorms and blizzards. It's not as dramatic as it sounds, however, and has a very logical explanation. It's all to do with sap inside the tree freezing and expanding, causing branches to crack and burst. It's not a common occurrence and is more likely to happen during a harsh winter in the coldest US hardiness zones. Generally speaking, it's not something to be too concerned about, as the damage is rarely exhaustive.
How Can I Stop My Lawn Going Brown in a Heatwave?
There are a few things you can do to protect your lawn during a heatwave. This includes keeping it hydrated by giving it a deep watering early in the morning, choosing drought-tolerant grass varieties, and improving soil structure by aerating your lawn.
If your yard is looking a little worse for wear after extreme weather, don't fret. There are plenty of ways to revive plants struggling with heat stress, help a lawn damaged by snow, and fix a waterlogged lawn.
Shop Gardening Accessories
This floral garden tool caddy makes it easy to carry tools around while working in the yard. It comes with 6 tools, gardening gloves, a spray bottle, and the caddy.
This beautiful canvas garden apron has multiple pockets to carry tools while working in the yard. It has a neck and waist tie for a comfortable fit.
This charming planter has a vintage floral design to elevate indoor plant displays. It measures 6.5x6.5x6.5".
This pruning set is perfect for tending to houseplants and garden plants alike. It comes with bypass pruning shears and pruning snips, both with stainless steel blades.
This watering duo is great for indoor and outdoor gardening. The plant mister can be used for moisture-loving houseplants and the watering can has a detachable spout.
These long-sleeve green gardening gloves are designed to protect hands and arms when working in the yard. They have leather palms and fingers for reinforcement.
