Yard Drainage

Yard Drainage Solutions

Fortunately, there are many different yard drainage options available, depending on your needs and the layout of your home and yard.

• Underground drainage: The simplest option is a system ofunderground pipes which carry excess water to the street.
• Channel drains: Channel drains are perfect for catching water running down a driveway or for preventing roof runoff from flooding the landscape below. These drains are installed into the concrete, channeling water away from the home into a pipe below the level of the concrete. The channel connects to another pipe, which leads water away from the house.
• Isolated area drains: If specific areas of your lawn or garden are giving you trouble, an isolated area drain may be a good answer. When water collects into puddles, not only does it look bad, but it also produces a literal breeding ground for mosquitoes and other unwanted insects. A simple underground area drain connected to a drainage pipe will work wonders by carrying the excess water to the street.
• French drainage systems: In areas with sensitive plants such as raised planters, making use of a French drain can result in excellent excess water management with very little change to the area’s appearance. A basic French drain is a perforated drainage pipe wrapped in landscape fabric. The fabric will allow water to pass through into the pipe to be diverted away, but soil, roots and other debris will not be able to pass through into the pipe.
• Gutter extensions: If the source of your yard flooding issues is your downspouts, consider adding gutter extensions, which connect to a drain pipe, leading the water away from your home.
• Grading: Grading or regrading is a way to control the flow of water above ground. A variety of grading techniques can be used to accomplish the goal of moving water from an undesired location to a more desired location on your property.

When your lawn is subjected to heavy rainfall, do you know where the water ends up? Poor drainage can result in a myriad of problems, including damage to your home’s foundation, damage to plants, and generally turning your yard into a swampy, muddy mess. In the same way a house requires a solid foundation, the core of any properly executed landscaping endeavor should be a good drainage system. After a spell of heavy rainfall, visibly inspect your yard to see just how well it is currently draining. If you have a wet yard or yard erosion, some drainage lines or yard grading might be in order.