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Homeowners are urged to grow gardens that can better withstand and recover from heavy rainfall by incorporating plants designed to cope with flooding.
Environment Department (defra) highlights five key plant types, from trees and shrubs to grasses and flowers, that can help gardens of different sizes become “flood ready.”
Officials say choosing the right plants can help common gardens recover better and faster after heavy rains, reducing the risk of flooding and property damage.
Some plants act as natural sponges, absorbing water through their roots and leaves, Defra said, slowing water runoff and improving soil absorption, as well as looking good in the garden.
Plants that can help make a garden flood resistant include river birch (Betula nigra), a fast-growing medium-sized tree with shallow roots that stabilize the soil and soak up a lot of water, and dogwood (Cornus sericea), a shrub with red autumn leaves and winter stems whose fibrous roots help prevent soil erosion.
Also on the list are mace sedge (Carex grayii), a grass that grows in clumps with dense stems that slow down water flow so water drains away slowly, and yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) which has bright-yellow flowers and stabilizes wet soils.
Red bistort (Bistorta amplexicaulis), a shrub that is suitable for ground cover in wet areas and which also attracts pollinators, is also recommended to make gardens more resilient to flooding.
Defra, which released the list as part of Flood Action Week, said planting flood-ready plants works best alongside other measures such as checking flood risk, signing up for warnings and making plans for what to do if flooding occurs.
Flood Minister Emma Hardie said: “Shoveling your dust can help better protect your home and garden from flooding this winter.
“Simple steps like choosing the right plants to plant in your garden will prepare it for heavy rainfall and help it recover from intense wet weather.
“I urge everyone to do everything they can to protect themselves from flooding this winter, such as checking your flood risk, signing up for flood warnings and having a flood plan in place.”
UK Faced with an increased risk of flooding due to climate change, the Climate Change Committee warned earlier this week that the country is already unprepared for the impacts of extreme weather, with homes already on the verge of “giving up” on whether global warming will worsen the situation.