Drainage Done Right: How To Manage Water in Your Yard
Adding drainage to your yard will help manage excess water when done right. Whether you decide to have the pros tackle this job, or you do it as a DIY, you must make sure your landscape drains well. Too much water can cause structural problems in your home.
So, where do you start? Below you’ll find everything you need to manage water in your yard. Let’s keep reading!
1. Find the Root of the Drainage Problem
First, you must find what’s causing the drainage issues in your yard. Once you understand the specific cause, you can manage it easier.
Start by walking around your property after a heavy rain. You want to note areas where water runs and collects. Any standing water is a sign of a problem in that area because it can’t drain properly.
Next, look over the gutters of your home. Broken or leaky gutters and downspouts can cause issues, leading to water pooling around the foundation.
2. Create a Plan
Next, you should consider all of your drainage options and research them to identify what would work best with the situation in your yard. Make a list of what you think would be ideal.
If your yard slopes toward your home, it can cause problems. You’ll need to alter the landscaping to guide the water away or install some trench drains.
Write down where natural paths for water on your property as well. You can use these paths to lead water to drainage systems where it runs away safely. You could add a rain garden at the end of these paths or drains to lead it away.
Overall, it’s best to have a plan in place before you start making changes to your yard. You should also set a budget at this stage. That way, you have realistic expectations for the project and you know how much money you have to work with.
3. Install Trench Drains
Consider contacting the professionals to determine if a trench drain, also called a channel drain, system would be right for you. These drains are effective for managing water that sits on the surface of your yard. They consist of a channel that carries away water with a grate on top.
Trench drains slope away from your home and carry the water to a dry well, rain garden, or storm drain. They’re excellent at preventing erosion since the water doesn’t have to travel in a stream through your yard to exit.
These drains can also prevent stagnant water from building up, helping to keep your property safer.
4. Dig a Dry Well
You can easily make a dry well in your yard to help manage the excess water. A dry well collects rain runoff and slowly releases it into the earth. That way, there’s no water standing on the surface.
They also protect your yard from erosion. You just need to ensure you build the dry well correctly.
Here’s what you can do:
Locate the area where water pools the most in your yard. It’s usually at the bottom of a slope or near the end of a gutter spout.
Make sure the area you select is at least 10 feet away from your home.
Call your local government to make sure there are no utility lines in the area.
Dig a hole that’s four by four feet in the chosen location.
Dig a trench, also called a swale, leading from the water pools to the hole. It should slope down towards the hole to help guide water in.
Fill the bottom of the hole with gravel.
Place a perforated container or drain tank in the hole.
Fill the area around the container with more gravel.
Fill the hole with soil and sod to reblend it into your yard.
Dry wells are effective and easy to make, as long as you don’t mind getting your hands dirty.
5. Focus on the Soil
You can also try changing the soil structure on your property. Its type can impact how well it drains, so you’ll want to look at what’s common in your area.
For example, clay soil doesn’t drain well and tends to hold onto water for a very long time. Adding gypsum to your soil can help the clay drain more efficiently. Sandy soil dries quickly, so it’s less likely to have drainage issues.
Overly compacted soil can also have trouble draining. You’ll want to use an aerator on your property to create many holes in it. Doing so increases aeration, allowing the water to make its way back into the earth.
6. Install Some Rain Chains
Rain chains are another way to direct rainwater from your home into the ground. Adding a few can help your downspouts manage rain. They’re beautiful and functional.
Rain chains are even easy to install, so consider your options. You can find them in many designs.
7. Dig a Creek Dry Bed
Next, adding a dry creek to your property is another outstanding way to manage runoff water. You use them to lead water away to somewhere that’s safe. Make sure you don’t accidentally lead the water to your neighbor's house when designing it.
Start by designing the path of the creek bed. It’s best if it follows natural drainage patterns. You can see this when it rains. All you need to do is note the paths that the water naturally follows already.
Dig a shallow trench along the path. It should slowly slope downward to keep the water moving in the direction you want.
Line the new creek with plants and rocks. They’ll help it keep its shape by making it more resistant to erosion.
Manage Water in Your Yard the Right Way
That’s how you can manage excess water in your yard. You don’t want to wait too long to start these projects because standing water can be incredibly harmful to your property and health. Consider trying a dry well, new gutters, or a reliable trench drain system for the best results.