Rain in the garden: a septic tank and loose soil are helpful

Created: 05/25/2022, 16:00

By: Joana Lück

Even in spring, the amount of precipitation reaches record levels.

Good if the garden is prepared with ditches and drainage.

Munich – Strong storms, which bring heavy rain and hail, are no longer uncommon in May.

If you have a garden with flowers, vegetables and other plants, you should take appropriate precautions.

Rain in the garden: a septic tank and loose soil are helpful

With ditches and drainage you can defy flooding.

(Iconic image) © Olga Berlet/Imago

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Rainfalls of over 20 liters per square meter are no longer uncommon.

But not only basements and apartments can then fill up with water, your garden is also at risk.

You can prevent a flood by using the following methods:

• Septic tank: In such a pit filled with gravel, the water can slowly seep away.

  But first it has to get there - with the help of gutters or just gravity (because the pit is lower than the rest of the garden) the rainwater runs into the septic tank and does not spread out in the garden.

• Diverting the gutter: So that the sewage system is not overloaded, the gutter should be diverted in heavy rain.

  This is accomplished by either connecting the gutter to a large vessel such as a rain barrel, directing the water to a rainwater pond, or directing it to a purpose-built septic tank.

  Gravel strips and lawns can also absorb a relatively large amount of water.

• Rain barrel: Most rain barrels have a capacity of 250 to 300 liters.

  If there are frequent storms, you should think about a specimen with a volume of up to 500 liters.

  Alternatively, you can purchase several rain barrels.

  The collected water can be reused later and is therefore sustainable.

• No garden tiles: While tiles are uncomplicated and modern, they can absorb little or no water.

  Loose soil with drainage or plants that can handle waterlogging is better.

A lawn also proves to be helpful: on a lawn, rainwater can seep directly into the ground instead of polluting the wastewater.