How to Fix a Waterlogged Lawn in Emsworth (Without Re-Turfing)

Puddles after every downpour? Use this Emsworth-specific plan to drain your lawn properly and keep moss at bay.

Low-lying coastal plots around Emsworth can hold water after rain, especially on compacted soil. Constant wet patches invite moss, weaken roots and make mowing a chore.

Your step-by-step plan

1. Find the cause. Stand back after rainfall: is water collecting in dips, or sitting everywhere? Dips need topdressing/levelling; “everywhere” screams compaction.
2. Aerate properly. Hollow-tine aeration (not just spikes) removes cores so water has channels to travel through.
3. Topdress 3–5 mm. Brush a sandy loam/root-zone mix into the holes to gradually open the soil profile.
4. Overseed to thicken. A rye/fescue blend copes well with West Sussex conditions; thick turf sheds water better than thin.
5. Treat the wettest parts. Apply a wetting agent to hydrophobic areas; consider a narrow French drain for persistent puddle lines along fences.
6. Raise the mower. Cutting higher (4–5 cm) protects crowns when the soil is soft.

For when to choose aeration vs scarification (and why both may help), see:
👉 Scarification vs Aeration: Which Lawn Treatment Does Your West Sussex Garden Need?
https://lawncarechichester.co.uk/scarification-vs-aeration-which-lawn-treatment-does-your-west-sussex-garden-need/