In the realm of commercial property management in Northeast Ohio, few challenges are as pervasive and potentially damaging as stormwater runoff. Some years, we get a lot of rain and other years, we don’t. Sometimes, those storms come with hail and flooding, and other years, Mother Nature takes it easy on us.
With climate change intensifying weather patterns, ensuring effective management of stormwater runoff has become paramount in Northeast Ohio commercial properties.
Not only does stormwater runoff control safeguard your property from erosion and flooding, but it also contributes to the preservation of local ecosystems and water quality.
Let’s discuss the importance of managing stormwater runoff in landscaping and provide practical strategies for commercial property owners and managers to tackle this critical issue head-on.
Stormwater Runoff In Landscaping
A flooded parking lot in your retail space does more than give everyone who visits your property soggy feet. It can also cause excess mud and soil displacement, chase customers away, and give your entire property a bad reputation.
When it storms, water falls on hard surfaces like parking lots, roads, sidewalks, walkways, driveways and rooftops. Since it can’t seep into the ground, it runs off into other areas. This can cause local flooding. High volumes of water can even cause areas on your commercial property to erode, causing landscape instability and upping your chances of spending excess funds on replacements and renovations.
The consequences of inadequate stormwater runoff control on commercial properties can be far-reaching and costly. Erosion caused by excessive runoff can lead to the destabilization of slopes and embankments, putting infrastructure and even lives at risk. Flooding resulting from overwhelmed drainage systems can disrupt business operations, damage property, and incur substantial repair costs.
But stormwater doesn’t have to cause headaches for you. There are ways you can better manage stormwater on your commercial property to limit liability risks, costly repairs, and hours of stress and worry.
Commercial Property Stormwater Runoff Management Ideas
Every season, your commercial property needs specific maintenance. It’s no different during storms or through storm season.
Managing stormwater runoff in landscaping requires a multifaceted approach that combines engineering solutions, green infrastructure, and proactive maintenance. Here are some key strategies to consider.
Maintenance Ensures a Stronger, More Stable Commercial Landscape
Protecting commercial properties from stormwater runoff in landscaping starts simply with regular and proper grounds management.
Weekly mowing during the growing season, spring and fall cleanups, bed edging and maintenance, fertilization, mulching, tree and shrub pruning, and snow and ice management can all keep your property in tiptop shape, making it stronger and more able to hold up to storms. Healthy soil and healthy plant roots can help control erosion and ensure smoother stormwater management.
Regular monitoring and maintenance are also essential for ensuring the long-term effectiveness of stormwater management measures. Implementing a proactive maintenance plan that includes inspections, repairs, and routine cleaning of stormwater infrastructure can help identify and address issues before they escalate, preserving the integrity of your property and reducing the risk of costly damage.
Implementing Green Infrastructure Ideas
Green infrastructure – or the natural or engineered system that mimics the functions of natural landscapes to manage stormwater – can be good additions to help implement commercial property stormwater runoff solutions.
Examples include rain gardens, bioswales, detention and retention ponds.
If you experience flooding in a low-lying area of your commercial landscape, especially after rain, turn those wet spots into attractive rain gardens. Rain gardens are made up of beds that use porous soil to grow plants that thrive in wetter environments. These versatile gardens can be as small or large as necessary to fit your space. With a rain garden, you lose your drainage issues and gain improved water quality, a habitat for birds and butterflies, and a low-maintenance, gorgeous addition to your commercial site.
To create a rain garden, a commercial landscape designer starts with a man-made depression that is designed to collect rain runoff. The garden is then filled with gravel or small rocks, mulch and rain garden plants to slow water movement and absorb excess water. It also removes pollutants in the water before it reaches nearby storm drains.
A bioswale is a conventional ditch or swale, modified and planted with appropriate native plants with the goal of increasing water percolation and pollutant removal as stormwater flows through it. They’re planted with native plants that receive and absorb stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, like parking lots, walkways and driveways.
In a bioswale, the water’s flow path, along with the wide and shallow ditch, is designed to maximize the time water spends in the swale. Bioswales make a lot of sense as stormwater management solutions near parking lots because they help filter contaminants from vehicles like oil and grease.
Another commercial property stormwater runoff option is a detention pond. This structure collects stormwater by storing it and releasing it slowly until it drains. A retention pond, on the other hand, is designed to permanently hold water.
Implementing and maintaining these kinds of structures to ensure they properly collect stormwater on your commercial property is an important part of commercial grounds management.
Permeable Paving Solutions
Permeable pavers are great additions to high-traffic commercial landscaping in Northeast Ohio, especially if the area you’re looking at tends to collect a bit more water than other spots.
These pavers reduce runoff volume by trapping and slowly releasing rainfall into the ground instead of allowing it to flow off into storm drains and erode nearby areas, making them excellent stormwater runoff control solutions.
Hire a Professional For Commercial Property Stormwater Runoff
Stormwater runoff control techniques only work their best when properly planned, installed, and managed.
That’s why hiring a professional with stormwater management experience is important. They will know what areas to watch for and what maintenance is necessary to prevent unnecessary and costly issues down the road.
Turfscape Can Be Your Partner For Stormwater Runoff Control Solutions in Northeast Ohio
Stormwater doesn’t care about your tight budget or your busy schedule on your Northeast Ohio commercial property. Rain will continue to flow regardless, so managing it deserves some consideration and proper planning.
After all, with everything else on your property management plate, the last items you want to add to your list are repairs or renovations that result from improper stormwater management. Your budget may not be able to handle it.
We completely understand. Being diligent and planning for a rainy day now can save you so much time, money, and headaches throughout the rest of the year. Don’t wait until the last minute. Turfscape can help you with commercial property stormwater runoff management in Northeast Ohio so you can put your facility in the best position for avoiding problems down the road.
Want to learn more about how Turfscape can help you manage stormwater challenges on your Northeast Ohio commercial property? Get started today with a free quote. We’ll review your options together so you can feel confident and make a great choice.
