8 things you should always do in your garden after it rains to save time and money

With winter fastly approaching, it is a good idea to get clued up on how to best manage the change in weather conditions with your garden- we have listed eight things you should do after it rains

After dedicating so much time to your garden this summer, its difficult to see how heavy rain can wash away your hardwork. But there are some greats ways to utilise rainwater in your garden.

Rainwater can negatively impact the state of your lawn and can cause standing water, drainage issues or even flooding. However, there are some ways to prevent these issues from wrecking your garden for good. New research by MyBuilder.com revealed that almost a fifth (17%) of Brits have had their lawns ruined by torrential rain. According to the research, 15% of people said their plants and trees had suffered damage. We have listed eight things to should do in your garden after it rains.

Check for pooling water

Pooling water is an accumulation of water on flat surfaces. If you notice that you have pooling water you can create a rain garden, by finding or paving way to make shallow hollows that can collect rainwater.

Keep an eye on your gutters

Heavy rainfall can cause issues in your gutters, which is why it is important to check for leaves, sticks and dirt that can become stuck in your gutter. If rain overflows, then it can cause water damage on your roof. If you notice that an issue is repeatedly happening, you can install gutter guards to stop debris from falling into the system.

Check plants near drain pipe

It is important that you check the area of your drain pipe (downspout) in case it becomes saturated after huge downpours. Additional moisture from the main can ruin certain plants and make them droopy. It might be worth replacing your plants in that area with more durable ones to save you time from constantly having to replant new ones.

Fix bare soil areas

In some cases, quick-moving stormwater can wipe away soil and mulch, which could leave areas in your garden looking bare and exposed. When this happens, you should attempt to rake as much of it back as possible. You can also try to investigate ways to slow down or re-direct the water in that area, reports Better Homes & Gardens.

Remove weeds

Use the rain to your advantage and see it as an opportunity to finally remove weeds from your garden. In most cases, it is easier to pull up weeds when the ground is wet.

Buy a rain barrel

If you don't have one already, a rain barrel would be the perfect purchase to help you make the most of the rain. You can collect and store the rainwater so you can reuse it to water your plants on a drier day. This will save you time and money.

Use a rain gauge

A rain gauge is a device which helps measure the amount of rain which falls. By using a rain gauge, you can help give your garden the right nutrients by having a better idea on how often you need to give your plants supplemental water between rain showers.

Get rid of standing water

If you keep on top of standing water in your garden you will be able to keep pests away such as mosquitos. They are known to lay eggs in standing water. To prevent this from happening, make sure you check and tip away water from your garden furniture, garden toys and any other items where water can gather.