If you’re a property owner, maintaining proper yard drainage is essential for the health and appearance of your land and any buildings on it (which is all the more important if that is your family home). Even if you’re not a landscaping expert, there are some key yard drainage tips you need to know.

Poor drainage can lead to a range of issues across your property, both short- and long-term.

The risks include everything from standing water that breeds insects, to erosion that washes away your yard, to actual damage to the foundation of your house or building.

We’ll cover important tips and solutions for improving your yard’s drainage, including when DIY methods aren’t enough and it’s time to call in a professional. By taking action to improve water flow in your yard with these yard drainage tips, you can protect your investment and create a beautiful, healthy outdoor space that will last for years to come!

Importance Of Residential Drainage Solutions

Some landscaping installations are done purely for aesthetic purposes, but that’s not the case for commercial and residential drainage solutions. These help to:

Prevent frustrating short-term issues from having standing water on your property.
Avoid long-term issues that cause damage to your home and health of your family.
Allow you to control the shape and appearance of your property.

Following our theme of yard drainage tips, let’s cover some of the most common risks associated with too much water that isn’t being drained properly.

Flooding

First and most obvious is flooding. If you have pools of water in your yard, it can kill your plants and make the yard unusable for you. Unless you’re in the middle of a natural disaster, this is not something that you need to live with!

Damage To Foundation

The foundation is literally what holds your house up, so you obviously want to take care of this.

When it comes to foundations, water is the enemy. If it is allowed to pool and build up in and around the foundation, it can cause cracks and other damages. Unfortunately, these can be extremely expensive to repair if you allow it to get to that point, so it’s best to do as much preventative work as possible.

Harmful to Landscaping

You’ve probably spent a lot of time and/or money making sure that your yard and all your landscaping looks nice. That’s all at risk if you haven’t factored in appropriate drainage strategies. There are two primary areas of concern here:

Damage to your plants. Too much water will cause plants and grass to die.
Overall erosion. Shifting soil can cause things to fall over or flow away.

Lowering of Soil Quality

Having excess water can lead to saturated soil, which results in poor drainage and soil quality. Proper drainage solutions can help maintain healthy soil conditions that will allow your plants to flourish.

Breeding Ground For Insects

In the best case scenario, too many mosquitos are an annoyance. The worst case is that they carry diseases that will infect your family and friends. None of these are ideal for a comfortable outside seating area.

Types Of Yard Drains

Now that you’re up-to-date on the risks of having too much water sitting around, let’s go over some of the types of yard drains that can be used.

French Drains

One common method to help water flow freely is a French drain. These are trenches filled with a perforated pipe and then gravel or rocks, and they direct water away from an area. They’re a great option for managing surface and groundwater, especially in areas with high water tables.

Catch Basins

Another common technique is to use catch basins. These are installed at low points in a yard to collect surface water. They have a grate or basin that allows water to flow in, and a pipe that directs the water elsewhere.

Dry Wells

Another similar and successful tool is a dry well. This is basically a hole in the ground filled with gravel or rock and a perforated pipe. They allow water to collect and drain into the surrounding soil at a slower rate. They’re an effective solution for areas with poor soil quality or high water tables.

Channel Drains

Next we have channel drains, which are long and narrow drains typically installed in concrete or pavers. They’re most commonly used to lead water away from driveways, patios, and other relatively flat surfaces.

Rain Gardens

Rain gardens are basically plant-filled depressions in the ground that collect and filter rainwater as it arrives. They’re designed to be more aesthetically pleasing than a completely man-made feature, and they can help reduce runoff and improve soil quality.

Installing A Drainage System In Your Yard

Installing a drainage system in your yard is a process that goes from relatively simple to extremely complex. It all depends on what you are installing and where you are installing it.

One thing is for sure, though, and that is that you should have a plan and strategy in place before you get started. Which leads us to our next point…

When To Hire A Landscaper

When should you hire a landscaper to help with your yard drainage?

As with most things, the professionals are generally able to do it better and faster. They know how to avoid the mistakes you are likely to make, and they have experience making sure it fits into the big picture.

A general rule is that you can likely handle a small project yourself, but remember that even the smallest require some amount of manual labor to complete. The worst is when you spend money on supplies, do a bunch of backbreaking labor, and end up with more water in your basement than when you started.

Scenic Lansdscaping Is Here To Help

We’re a full-service landscaping company with more than 15 years of experience. In other words, we’ve seen it all!

Aside from supplying you with yard drainage tips, we can help with both one-time projects and repeat maintenance.

Get in touch to find out how we can help you with residential/commercial maintenance, hardscape installation, snow removal, and much more!

Yard Drainage Tips You Need To Know