California Is Preparing for El Niño. Is Your Yard Ready?

California is doing something a little unusual this September.

Before the winter rains have arrived, before the atmospheric rivers start showing up in our forecasts, and before most of us have even pulled our rain jackets out of the back of the closet, the state has already declared a state of emergency to prepare for the developing El Niño.

That does not mean we need to panic.

It means we have time to prepare.

And at Halcyon Yard Solutions, we would much rather help solve a problem before it becomes one.

This El Niño Is Worth Paying Attention To

El Niño conditions are already present in the Pacific, and current forecasts indicate that this event has the potential to become extremely strong as we move through fall and into winter.

That does not guarantee that every part of California will experience extreme rainfall. Weather does not work quite that neatly. But current forecasts do favor a wetter than normal winter for California, and the state is taking the possibility of flooding, landslides, debris flows, power outages, and storm damage seriously enough to begin preparations months ahead of the heart of our rainy season.

We think homeowners should take advantage of that same head start.

Here in the East Bay, we know what heavy rain can do.

Sometimes the difference between water moving harmlessly through a property and water ending up somewhere it absolutely should not be is something as simple as a pile of leaves sitting over a drain.

Start at the Top of Your House

Before the first major rain, take a look at your roof.

Leaves, pine needles, twigs, seed pods, and other debris sitting on a roof may not look particularly concerning when everything is dry. Once heavy rain arrives, however, all of that material starts moving.

And where does it go?

Straight toward your gutters.

Cleaning your gutters is important, but cleaning them while leaving a roof covered in debris only solves half the problem. The next good rain can wash everything right back into them.

Make sure your roof is reasonably clear, your gutters are clean, and your downspouts are flowing properly.

Most importantly, look at where that water goes once it reaches the ground.

A perfectly functioning gutter does not help much if the downspout empties into an area where water pools against your foundation.

Walk Your Yard Before the Rain Does

Your yard already has a drainage system, whether it was intentionally designed that way or not.

Water will find the lowest point.

It will follow slopes, pathways, planting beds, retaining walls, driveways, and side yards. When enough rain falls quickly enough, you find out exactly where your property's weak spots are.

If you have lived in your home for a few winters, you may already know them.

That corner that always turns into a pond.

The drain that disappears underneath leaves every November.

The side yard that suddenly becomes a little river.

The spot along the fence where water collects.

The downspout that overwhelms the planting bed underneath it.

Those are not things to rediscover at 10 p.m. in a downpour with a flashlight.

Walk the property now.

Clear leaves, weeds, mulch, soil, and landscaping debris away from drains and drainage paths. Check areas where water has pooled in previous years. Make sure nothing added to the landscape over summer has accidentally blocked the path water normally takes.

And if your property has historically had flooding issues, now is also the time to figure out where your community distributes sandbags and what you would need to protect vulnerable areas of your home.

Sandbags are much easier to deal with when everyone in town is not trying to find them at the same time.

What About Irrigation?

Rain in the forecast does not automatically mean it is time to turn your irrigation system off.

A little drizzle or a few damp days may make everything look wet without providing enough water to actually reach plant roots. Turning irrigation off too early can leave landscapes stressed or damaged, particularly if significant rainfall does not follow.

Halcyon clients do not need to guess.

As we move into the rainy season, Mike will be updating clients when conditions have reached the point that it is appropriate to turn irrigation off.

Until then, please do not shut your system down just because we get our first little taste of fall weather. California has fooled us with a few drops of rain before. We would rather make that call based on what your landscape actually needs.

Remember That Storms Can Affect More Than the Yard

Preparing the outside of the house is only part of preparing for a wet winter.

Severe storms can bring power outages, fallen trees, road closures, and periods when getting to a store is inconvenient or impossible.

You do not need a bunker filled with seventeen years of canned beans.

You probably should have enough basics to comfortably get your family through a few days.

Keep some drinking water and shelf stable food available. Have flashlights and batteries somewhere you can actually find them in the dark. Keep power banks charged. Make sure you have necessary medications and supplies for the people and animals in your household.

Keeping a reasonable amount of cash at home can also be useful. Power and communications outages can occasionally affect electronic payment systems.

If your household depends entirely on electricity for cooking, think about how you would safely prepare food during an extended outage.

Some families may also want to consider a generator.

A generator can be incredibly useful for keeping necessities such as a refrigerator or freezer running, but generator safety is extremely important. Portable generators produce carbon monoxide and must be operated outside, well away from doors, windows, and vents. They should never be operated inside a house or garage.

Know how your equipment works before you need it.

Storm night is not ideal instruction manual time.

Don't Forget the Animals

Our families include the furry members too.

If severe weather is approaching, bring pets inside and make sure you have food, medications, carriers, leashes, and anything else they may need readily accessible.

Flooding and high winds can damage fences and gates. Animals can also behave very differently when they are frightened by wind, thunder, unusual noises, or changes around their home.

If you have outdoor animals, livestock, or animals with special needs, their storm plan deserves just as much thought as the rest of the family's.

The Goal Isn't Fear. It's Preparation.

There is something important about the timing of California's emergency declaration.

The state did not wait until communities were flooding to start preparing for flooding.

That is the entire point.

We have spent years in California talking about drought, water conservation, drought tolerant landscaping, and how to help our landscapes survive with less water.

Sometimes we also need to prepare them for a whole lot of water at once.

And right now, we have something incredibly valuable.

Time.

Time to clean the roof.

Time to clean the gutters.

Time to clear the drains.

Time to look at drainage.

Time to identify the places that flooded last time.

Time to find the sandbags.

Time to put some emergency supplies in the pantry.

Time to charge the power banks and figure out where somebody put the flashlights.

Hopefully, we prepare for a very wet winter and much of that preparation turns out to be unnecessary.

We would consider that a fantastic outcome.

And If You Need Something, Call Us!

Halcyon is a small company, and that means our clients are not account numbers on a route sheet to us.

We know your homes. We know your yards. We know your dogs that greet us at the gate, the plants you love, the trees you worry about, and the places on your property that give you trouble every winter.

We care very deeply about the families we work for.

If severe weather comes through the East Bay this winter and you are worried about something, call Mike or Brody.

There may not be many people out and working in the middle of a California winter storm. But those two will be.

Of course, there will be situations where conditions are simply too dangerous for anyone to be outside. Their safety matters too. But if something is happening and you need help, please call.

We cannot promise that we can fix every problem in the middle of a storm.

We can promise that we care.

Prepare early. Keep your family safe. Keep your animals safe. Keep those drains clear.

And hopefully, when the rain finally arrives, we can all enjoy the sound of it from inside instead of standing ankle deep in the side yard wondering where the heck the water is supposed to go.

Halcyon Yard Solutions

Solutions for your yard, before the problem starts. 💚