9 Things In Your Yard That’ll Get Washed Out by Heavy Rain
When summer storms hit hard, your yard can go from put-together to patchy real fast. You don’t always notice it while it’s raining, but once that water settles, a lot of little details get washed away or beat down. If something always looks worn out or uneven after a storm, this might be why. These are the yard features that rarely survive a big downpour without some damage.
Mulch Beds
Mulch is the first thing to scatter when rain pours hard. It runs into the yard, clogs the edge of the driveway, and leaves behind a bare patch around your plants. Heavier mulch helps a little, but without a proper edge or some form of ground cover, you’ll be refilling it often.
Pea Gravel Paths
Pea gravel might look clean and tidy when dry, but once the rain hits, it shifts, scatters, and settles unevenly. You’ll end up with bald spots in some areas and piles in others. Without a solid base underneath or edging, it doesn’t hold up to repeat rain.
Soil Around Foundations
If you’ve ever walked around your house after a storm and noticed dips or soft spots, that’s the soil washing away from the foundation. It doesn’t just look bad—it can mess with drainage and lead to bigger issues down the road. You’ve got to keep it packed or consider grading.
Stepping Stones Without a Base
Flat pavers or stones that are just sitting on the ground get sunken or tilted after heavy rain. Once the dirt underneath softens and shifts, they become uneven or start wobbling under your foot. Without a proper sand or gravel base, they won’t stay put for long.
Edging Borders
Plastic edging or cheap landscape borders buckle and pop out of the ground once the rainwater runs heavy. The pressure from water flowing through mulch or garden beds pushes against the edge until it loosens, bends, or comes completely out of place.
Bare Topsoil
If you’ve got an area where grass hasn’t come in yet or a garden you haven’t mulched, rain will wash that top layer of dirt away fast. That leaves behind compacted ground or a layer of clay that’s harder to work with next time you plant.
Decorative Bark Chips
Bark chips look nice until a storm rolls through. They float easier than mulch and are more likely to clog drains or scatter across the lawn. Unless they’re tucked into a well-contained bed, expect to be picking them up after every downpour.
Fresh Sod
Sod that hasn’t had time to root yet will shift or buckle during a heavy storm. If it’s not anchored down or watered in evenly beforehand, it can curl at the edges, float slightly, or leave gaps in your yard layout that weren’t there before.
Lightweight Planters
Small or decorative planters get knocked over or swept away during a storm, especially if they’re empty or sitting on hard surfaces. Even a decent gust paired with water flow can move them. If you want them to stay put, you’ve got to weigh them down.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
