Problems with drainage can turn even a beautifully renovated backyard landscape into a consistent headache for a homeowner. For this reason, taking the time to carefully consider and plan for drainage and proper grading is an essential step for any landscape project.
Here’s a complete breakdown on some of the important factors and considerations when it comes to keeping your backyard above water.
What is drainage and grading?
Planning for proper drainage is planning how water will flow and drain away from the property. This is an important consideration regardless of how much rainfall there is in your area each year, as improper drainage can quickly create big problems.
Grading is adjusting the slope or elevation of the land. This can be used in a landscape design for aesthetic effects, but will also control how water will flow.
What are some possible problems caused by improper drainage?
Over time, even a small amount of water can cause some serious problems. For example, water that regularly is directed towards and pools near homes, patios or retaining walls can begin to undermine the stability of structures.
Secondly, water directed by poor grading can drip into basements over time and lead to issues with mold or rot — which are serious health concerns.
Erosion is another common concern, where the flow of water washes away soil, gardens, and other parts of the landscape. Once again, even a small but steady flow of water over time can ruin a beautiful landscape project.
Improper drainage also will often prevent you and your family from using your backyard if the yard takes several days to properly drain after a thunderstorm.
Lastly, plants and trees on your property will suffer if they regularly deal with either too much or not enough water. If each rainfall leads to pooling of water on your property, any greenery in that area will likely experience root rot.
Common drainage solutions
When you work with a landscape design company, they will take into consideration how water flows through the property and help direct it properly.
Some common solutions include:
- Grading Lawn Areas to ensure the slopes direct water away from structures and key areas.
- Adding Downspouts can prevent water from flowing off rooftops and pooling directly underneath.
- French Drains are trenches with gravel or rock containing a perforated pipe that is used to direct water away from a specific area. These are especially useful for preventing water building around foundations of buildings.
- Dry Wells are structures installed underground that collect and temporarily store water until it seeps into the surrounding soil. This is a way to prevent excessive amounts of water from pooling on the surface of the lawn.
- And Swales are sloped channels that control the flow of water away from structures. Usually these also contain vegetation and can be incorporated into the aesthetic appeal of a landscape design.
Work with a professional
A landscape contractor will do a full site assessment as part of the design process and factor drainage solutions into the plan.
Keep your landscape investment looking beautiful for many years to come by asking your landscape contractor about how they plan to manage water on the property. After all, it’s better to do it right the first time then to stress about repairs due to water a year or two down the road!
Time to get started!
Once all the questions are cleared up and confirmed, it’s time for the work to start! Having a landscape company like VS Landscape come in for an open and honest consultation is a great way to learn more about the process and any potential costs.
If you have any additional questions or if you simply want to get started with a project, reach out to us today!