Do you find that your yard gets damp or frequently floods because of excess water build-up? Drainage problems can be a serious maintenance issue in gardens and backyards and can cause huge amounts of damage to your home and outdoor space. This article offers some simple solutions to this common problem!
Standing water in your yard or a damp, soggy lawn can be a sign of drainage problems. Continual damp on your lawn can cause issues both for your garden and, if severe enough, to your house’s foundations. Lawns won’t thrive in constantly wet conditions, and even the best weed eater won’t save your plants from over-saturation. Luckily, you can implement some practical solutions to get rid of excess water in your yard.
Common Drainage Problems
When dealing with drainage problems around the house, it’s important to suss out where the water is coming from and what is causing the build-up in the first place. Common problems include a low-lying lawn which provides no run-off, or that causes the water to pool in one area. Another issue could be a drainpipe that does not provide adequate drainage away from the house but, instead, dumps water directly into your yard. Sometimes, standing water doesn’t come from our own property but is the result of water draining from a neighbor’s yard or nearby run-off. Once you’ve discovered the source of your drainage problems, here are some options you can consider:
Fill in Small, Low-Lying Areas
If your garden is very uneven and has dips and troughs across it, this could be a cause of backyard drainage problems. A simple solution to fix pooling water across small areas is to fill in any dips and places where water tends to collect. Filling-in low-lying areas with gravel allow for natural drainage into the soil. Place lawn turf on top of this for a natural, aesthetic look that will blend in with the rest of your garden. Alternatively, you can use top-soil to cover any depressions in your yard – just remember to create a gently sloping gradient to allow for drainage.
1. Extend Your Drainpipes
Sometimes water collects around the sides of your house because of drainage problems with your downspouts. If your house sits in a dip and water slopes down towards it, it’s really important that your downspouts carry water out of your yard. Otherwise, water will run off your roof and surge against the side of your house. Over time, this can damage your walls and the structure of your property. These are common types of yard drainage problems, and solutions are quite simple. Extending your downspout so that it carries water further from your property, preferably towards a storm drain or place where it can run off naturally, is an excellent step forward.
2. Create a Rain Garden
If water collects at the bottom of your yard, or in a spot where you cannot easily help it drain away, why not create a rain garden? Rain gardens are a great way to stop drainage problems in the yard and prevent water, causing foliage damage. Simply isolate the area where water tends to gather and replace the plants with foliage and flowers that thrive in wet conditions.
3. Creek-Bed Landscaping
Wondering how to fix drainage problems in the yard if the water runs in from somewhere else? Flooding from an external source can be a big problem, especially in built-up areas with a lot of rainfall. If water continually floods your outdoor space, why not channel this water into a man-made creek-bed? Landscaping drainage problems in this way allows you to build excess water into your garden design and create a beautiful water feature. Make sure to dig your creek-bed in a way that allows the water to drain out of your yard safely and in line with planning laws.
4. Dry Well
Often, drainage problems have a simple fix. An underground dry well allows water to sit in a contained space, without causing damage, before it slowly seeps into the soil through holes in well’s the sides and base. Ideally, you should aim to install a dry well, which catches around 15 minutes worth of rainfall. This will allow time for adequate drainage.
Don’t let your yard go to waste. Water damage from drainage problems can be a hugely distressing and time-consuming problem if left untreated. Get yours under control today with one of our simple fixes!
Cheap Yard Drainage Solution
Do you deal with excess water or flooding in your yard? How do you cope with flooding problems? Tried any of these fixes? Share your thoughts with us!
Author’s Bio: Alex Green is a copywriter with 3 years of experience. He is fond of healthy living and knows everything about home improvement. In his spare time, Alex likes walking with his golden retriever, meeting with friends, and attending the gym.
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