March 6, 2024

Soggy lawns are more than just unattractive; they are damaging. Not only are they damaging to your plants and the health of your lawn, but they can also have a negative impact on your family’s health through excess mold and mildew growth, and they can even damage the foundation of your home, resulting in a costly fix. You can’t control the climate or the weather around your property, but you can control how you work with the environment to create a well-designed property to handle water. Finding proper drainage solutions is essential for a healthy landscape. Once you’ve identified any existing and potential drainage issues, you can focus on choosing the right solution for your property.Large puddle near base of tree in a yard.

Identifying Drainage Issues

Before you can fix drainage issues, you need to figure out where the problems exist. The most prominent issues are ones with visual signs. If you see areas of standing water, especially if it’s been some time since the last rainfall, you are facing poor drainage. Even if rain is relatively recent, areas that are soggy or have water pooling may mean the water is not draining effectively. As you walk around your property, look for places that are muddy or have signs of soil erosion. These are all indicators that water drainage may be an issue. Another way to assess drainage issues is by looking at the health of the plants on the property. Poor drainage has a significant impact on plant health. You may see yellowing leaves, sparse blooms, or patchy areas on the lawn. Root rot from excess water or stunted growth from nutrient-deficient soil significantly impacts plants. While some soil issues are easy to spot, such as when the soil is compacted, others may require testing to determine drainage issues. A soil percolation test is easy and can give you much information about your drainage.

The last indicator of drainage issues is the most significant. If you notice any structural damage to your foundation or hardscapes in your yard, you need to address these drainage problems immediately. Cracks in the foundation, seeping water in the basement, or sinking hardscapes need to be amended immediately.

Fixing Drainage Issues

Once you know that you have drainage issues, addressing them can remedy the problems you are currently facing and help you avoid any additional issues.

  • Solution 1: Regrading the Yard

Regrading your property will direct water away from problem areas. By reshaping the land to the optimal level and slope, you can avoid low spots for water to pool. Many new construction homes will need some regrading, as little attention is paid to the property’s slope during the construction process. You should always have a professional for this process, but it can be very affordable with the right team.

  • Solution 2: Installing a French Drain

A French drain is an excellent solution to redirect water. A trench will be dug that slopes down from areas where water pools to an area that can handle the water. The trench will have a drainpipe placed, covered with stone, and then refilled with soil. When it rains, water will flow through the pipe. This is a simple yet very effective solution and can be easily done by a landscaping team.

  • Solution 3: Creating a Rain Garden:

Rain gardens take advantage of the excess water by using it as a part of the landscaping design. Create an area that slopes into a slight depression, where water can be channeled. You will plant a blend of water-absorbent trees, shrubs, and flowers in the garden. This solution not only looks natural but will make your yard more sustainable.

  • Solution 4: Using Downspout Extenders

Your gutters are essential for keeping water flowing off your home in a controlled way. However, most downspouts do not keep water flowing far enough away from your foundation, especially if you have compacted or heavy clay soil. Downspout extenders keep the water moving further away from your foundation and can prevent water from pooling near the house. Some downspout extenders can be installed easily on your own with tools purchased from local home improvement stores, but the disadvantage is that they can disrupt the look of your landscaping. Landscape and drainage professionals can design the ideal solution to place downspout extenders underground. They will know precisely how deep to place them and how far the spout should extend for optimal drainage.

  • Solution 5: Soil Aeration:

Heavy soil can prevent drainage. Amending the soil can be frustrating, but aerating the soil in the spring and fall can provide many benefits in a much easier way. Aerating the soil can improve water absorption and prevent pooling by breaking up areas where the soil has compacted. A landscaping professional can schedule soil aeration as part of a maintenance package, taking the stress of deciding when and how to aerate entirely off your plate.

Ignoring drainage issues won’t make them go away. If you notice pools of water in your yard or soggy spots that linger after a rainstorm, you must take care of them before you start seeing bigger issues. Having a drainage professional assess your property can help you determine the best solution to keep water away from your foundation and work for you, not against you. The team at Twin Oaks Landscaping has the right professionals to help so contact us today.