By Larry Sheehan, Principal Landscape Architect, Verde Design Group
The recent news about unusually warm ocean water and a rapidly intensifying hurricane near Mexico raises a practical question for San Diego property owners: If a strong storm reaches our area, where will the water go? For most sites, the answer comes down to landscape drainage.
Warm ocean water can help fuel stronger storms, but it does not tell us when or how much rain San Diego will receive. What we can examine now is the property itself.
Start by Walking the Site
I would start by walking the site and looking for places where water already collects, crosses a walkway, flows toward a building, or erodes a slope. Those patterns often show up during an ordinary rainstorm. A heavier storm can make them harder to manage.
For general storm preparation guidance, the City of San Diego also publishes resources for property owners.
Drainage Questions for Commercial Properties, Apartments, and HOAs
For a commercial property, apartment community, or HOA, I would also ask where standing water could interrupt access. Can residents reach their homes safely? Can customers use the entrance? Can maintenance crews get to the areas they need to inspect?
What Comes Next for Your Landscape
Those observations give us a place to start. Sometimes a maintenance adjustment is enough. Other sites may need a closer look at grading, drainage, planting, or irrigation. The right response depends on what is happening on that property.
Schedule a Landscape Drainage Assessment in San Diego
If you would like Verde Design Group to review how your landscape handles rain, contact us to schedule a property assessment.
