Solve Yard Flooding: Effective Drainage Solutions for Your Lawn

Selecting the appropriate solution for your lawn is essential for the maintenance of a healthy outdoor space. The right drainage system makes sure your lawn receives a sufficient quantity of water.

While water may be a necessity for the care of the lawn, it is essential that it is properly spread to prevent the water from damaging your property and other major installations. That is, the amount of water the lawn receives must not be too little or too much. Bear in mind that standing water or areas that consistently get wet can result in several issues, ranging from diseases of the grass to soil erosion.

Sadly, knowing the ways to enhance the drainage of your yard for a particular property is not entirely as easy as going to the Internet and carrying out a fast search. However, fear not, as this article is set to inform you of tips and tricks that will make it possible for you to identify and implement the suitable drainage system for your lawn.

How to Maintain a Proper Drainage System

Install a French Drain

A French drain is an easy and effective solution to drainage that involves burying a perforated pipe that is surrounded by gravel. This gives room for water to filter through the gravel and to the pipe where it is directed away from the landscape. French drains are especially effective for the management of too much water on sloping terrain.

In the installation of a French drain, it is crucial to select the appropriate size and capacity for your landscape. The pipe of the drain should be large enough to accommodate the water volume in your area and should also be located in a place where water gathers naturally.

Paving Materials

Paving materials which are permeable are a creative answer for the management of runoff and too much water. Those materials include plastic, asphalt, and concrete pavers that have little gaps which give room for water to filter through into fast-draining gravel layers underground.

Permeable paving materials are a suitable option for walkways, driveways, as well as other outdoor surfaces. They do not merely prevent runoff, but they also make it possible for water to slowly seep into the soil. Besides, they can be found in various colors and styles, thereby making it possible to come up with an attractive and functional outdoor space.

Rain Garden for Too Much Water

A rain garden is an attractive and practical way to handle too much water on your property. Thus natural and self-sustaining system gives room for water to gather in a shallow depression, where it can get filtered into the soil little by little. Rain gardens are especially effective in managing runoff from driveways, roofs, and other impervious surfaces.

In order to come up with a good rain garden, it is essential to select the appropriate location and soil mix. The garden should be located in a low-lying area where water gathers naturally. The soil mix should be able to drain well, yet able to retain moisture during dry times. Interestingly, when it comes to a rain garden, native plants are a suitable option.

Water-Absorbing Plants

Apart from a rain garden, including water-absorbing plants in your landscape can help in managing too much water and fight against the occurrence of a drainage problem. Those plants can survive in wet conditions and can help in the prevention of runoff and erosion. Native species are, again, a suitable option. This is because they are well adapted to the local environment and demand less maintenance.

Examples of water-absorbing plants are willows, red twigs, and dogwoods. Those plants can either be utilized in a rain garden or planted all through your landscape to help in absorbing excess water. Although this technique is more of a gardening task than landscaping, it can fix your yard drainage problems for a long while.

Dry Well System

A dry well is a kind of underground storage system which enables too much water to gradually filter into the groundwater table. The system involves passing downspouts or other systems of drainage to Al large underground well where there can be storage of water and slowly absorbed into the soil.

Dry wells are an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to French drains. This is because dry wells need less maintenance and are not likely to clog over time. Yet, they may not be as effective as French drains regarding the management of larger volumes of water.

Install a Trench Drain

When your walkway is an asphalt or concrete type which sends water in the wrong direction, the water can be stopped in its tracks. The installation of a channel drain begins with a narrow trench cut into the asphalt or concrete. Following that, a long channel drain is placed in the trench.

When water gets to the trench drain, it is then sent off in a different direction, well away from your garage or house.

Grassy Swale

A grassy swale is a natural depression or ditch that is built to channel too much water from one area to another. Swales are usually lined with grass or any vegetation that helps absorb too much water and prevent erosion.

Grassy swales are especially of use in the management of runoff from large areas, like athletic fields, roofs, or parking lots. They can be useful in combining with other drainage solutions like dry wells or French drains, in order to develop a comprehensive drainage system for your property.

In the design of a grassy swale, it is vital to select the appropriate size and location for your landscape. The swale should be located in a natural depression or low-lying place and should be big enough to accommodate the water volume in your area.