The Ann Arbor area is a beautiful place to own a home, but the heavy clay soil can turn drainage annoyances into drainage problems. If your landscape wasn’t designed with proper water drainage, you could face more than a simple annoyance of soggy spots. Water damage can be a real concern for homeowners with poor landscape drainage. If you have soggy spots after rain, talk to your landscaper to find drainage solutions to protect your property.
Proper drainage directs the water on your property and away from your foundation and yard. Even with adequate drainage being important, you may not even think about it when your property has it. Poor drainage is more than just an annoyance. There are real risks to ignoring poor water drainage in your yard, and they can range from the poor aesthetics of an unhealthy lawn to the expense of repairing your home’s foundation. Poor drainage can cause health hazards due to the growth of mold and mildew in soggy areas. Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. When poor drainage is allowed to impact your home’s foundation, you will likely have a leaky, moldy, and mildew-infested basement that relies heavily on a sump pump. All these issues can be very costly to remedy.
Most homeowners do not need to be told they have a drainage issue. If your property has poor drainage, it will become apparent in several ways, such as pools of standing water after rain, erosion around hardscapes, such as porches, patios, and retaining walls, areas of your property infested by mosquitos or other insects, and muddy areas with dead patches of grass. Drainage problems may also cause standing water around the foundation, particularly if excess water is running toward the foundation. Eroding soil or standing water up against the foundation means you must address your drainage problems quickly before facing much more serious issues.
Finding the primary cause of drainage problems is a quality landscaper’s first step to solving your drainage issues. Usually, there is more than one factor at play. High clay content in the soil is a major factor in the Ann Arbor area. The heavy clay content prevents water from being absorbed effectively and can cause soggy areas. While some homeowners will attempt to amend the soil, fighting the heavy clay content is typically a losing battle. In addition to heavy clay content, some drainage issues are caused by a poorly graded yard with no designated area for run-off. This is often the case in newly constructed homes where the builders did not pay proper attention to the landscaping slope. Sometimes drainage problems develop or worsen over time due to erosion due to the Ann Arbor area climate and weather patterns. The causes of poor drainage can be identified with the right drainage contractor, and solutions can be discussed.
After you understand the cause of your drainage issues, you can work with a drainage expert to choose the right solution for your problem. Some drainage issues can be solved quickly and easily, like creating a rain garden with water-absorbing plants. In contrast, more serious issues will require extensive remediation, even regrading the property to redirect water flow. Several popular solutions can handle most drainage issues Ann Arbor area homeowners face.
A French drain is a trench with a drainage pipe that runs a few feet from the house and goes below the frost line so the water that flows through will not freeze and crack the pipe. It is one of the most popular solutions suggested by drainage contractors. The pipe will be fitted with small holes and positioned to run on a slight downward slope, encouraging the water to flow away from the yard and the foundation of the house. The pipe will usually sit on a thin gravel bed, and the trench will be filled with gravel to allow the water to flow more easily. The gravel can be worked into the landscaping, or the drain and gravel can be topped with sod to keep the lawn consistent.
Dry wells are essentially underground storage systems. The excess water will slowly filter into the groundwater table. Water is stored and will gradually be absorbed into the soil. While dry wells can be more cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and lower maintenance than French drains, they are not as efficient at managing large volumes of water.
A grassy swale is a natural depression or ditch in your landscaping designed to direct water flow from one area to another. When lined with grass or other plants, a swale can absorb excess water, preventing the swale from eroding over time. Grassy swales are effective for managing runoff from large areas and are usually combined with other drainage systems, working together for a comprehensive drainage system.
Once you have a drainage solution in place, discuss the maintenance of your drainage systems with your landscape contractor to ensure long-term effectiveness. In most cases, the only maintenance you will need to do is regular inspections after rain to ensure the systems are still working effectively and have not become clogged. If a clog does occur, it must be cleared out before the next rainstorm. If you notice erosion in a previously treated area, your landscape professional can help adjust the slope. Knowing what to expect from your drainage solution can help you figure out when things aren’t working anymore and will allow you to get the professionals in before the problem becomes a big one.
When you understand the importance of proper drainage and work with your landscape professional to find the right solution, you can avoid soggy yards, pools of standing water, mosquito infestations, and damage to the structure of your home. Soggy yards are more than just an annoyance. For drainage issues or questions, contact Twin Oaks Landscape today.