2025 has been a tough year for South Florida gardeners. The rains we were expecting in April and May didn't come, and some parts of the region are 10 inches below normal precipitation. Unless your plants are used to this sort of thing and well-established, you've probably found yourself watering your plants a lot more often than usual.
Still, a client recently asked us for some advice on frequent flooding she gets in her garden. Even a light rain leaves her yard under several inches of water, and it tends to linger. Every plant she places there has died, and she doesn't know what to do.
Here are a few solutions that might help if you have too much water in part of your garden.
Install plants that can take it. Trees like Bald Cypress, Sweet Bay, Live Oak, and Southern Magnolia actually like standing in pooled water occasionally. if you don't have the room for those, bamboo, privet, wax myrtle and fakahatchee or muhly grasses, will do fine as well, and will soak up that water in no time (this is why you always see bald cypress planted in catchment basins and retention ponds).
Consider installing drains. A professional contractor can help you install drains under the garden to take water away and into an appropriate outlet. Costs are less than you'd expect, but this solution can be out of budget for many.
Inspect why the water won't drain. Does the area have a lot of pavement or concrete? Is there a barrier like vinyl or layers of weed fabric? Is a gutter spilling water there? Does a storm sewer back up nearby? Many times you can find solutions if you just take a look. Even pavers can prevent draining into soil if there are enough of them.
Give the water a path. A decorative, winding shallow trench lined with river rocks can help spread the water out to the rest of your garden, and make a beautiful stream when the rains come.
Give up the fight and install a water feature. Even a small area can house a pond, and with the right equipment, plants, and fish, it can be kept clean and healthy, and be a water source for local wildlife.
No matter how frustrating a soggy yard can be, there are always creative and practical ways to work with what nature gives you. Whether you choose to plant for the conditions, improve drainage, or turn a problem spot into a beautiful water feature, the key is to stay flexible and observant. Gardens are living systems — and sometimes, the best approach isn’t to fight the water, but to make it part of your design.
