They say “April showers bring May flowers” but with improper drainage, you will likely have May mud puddles and lack of lawn growth!

 

Some tell-tale signs of improper drainage could be water lines, bare roots being exposed, and of course, large puddles of water. In addition, you will see that the lawn growth is severely reduced in low drainage areas.

 

Why is Proper Drainage Important?

Improper drainage will lead to a less successful outdoor living space if it is hindered from moving downhill. Water is necessary for healthy landscape, but too much can be disastrous. There are simple ways to fix drainage for less costs, or you can rest assured when you have the drainage permanently corrected.

 

Top 5 Common Landscape Drainage Problems & Solutions to Fix Them:

Improper plant bed designs

  • Problem When planting in planter beds, it is crucial to consider the bed layout. An improper bed design will impede the natural water flow and prevent water from moving in the direction that the property developer/engineer had intended for your structure. With this in mind, it could encourage water to remain in the beds, kill any plants that are planted there, or worse: go in a direction that causes other damage.
  • Solution Make sure the drainage solution includes a calculation for the proper slope to efficiently move the water downhill.

Poor elevation

  • Problem One of the most common drainage issues we experience is water being held at the foundation level. This can severely affect a structure’s finishes (such as drywall and wood floors) and can lead to foundation failure. These issues can be avoided when the construction of the house includes elevating the foundation slab enough to get proper slope away from the property.
  • Solution Grade around your property which allows another place for water to flow and avoids your foundation. Installing a sub-surface drainage system with a catch basin and pipe also solves this issue.

Paved surfaces

  • Problem In addition to your landscaping having a proper grade, your hardscape surfaces will need that as well. Driveways, pool decks, terraces, and walkways need to be pitched at a certain angle in order to drive the water away from your foundation and prevent pooling and other drainage issues.
  • Solution In addition to properly grading the area, you can also install retaining walls to help with drainage issues.

Water traps

  • Problem If your property is not graded correctly, it can result in depressions which hold water. As mentioned before, water is crucial for a healthy landscape, but only in the correct amounts. An excess of water will kill your turf and plant material. It can leave your property with marshy conditions and could encourage pesky mosquitoes who are drawn to these environments.
  • Solution Install creek beds for storm water to be moved on the surface. These are much more aesthetic! In more extreme situations, there are mechanical options such as sump pumps that can evacuate the water.

Gutters!

  • Problem When gutter down spout exits are not addressed, you are looking at high drainage issues that are directly next to the foundation. If the exit drains into plant beds, it will likely over saturate plant materials; if the water exits to paved surfaces which are not pitched correctly, you will have a headache on your hands.
  • Solution Take care in planning your drainage solution. Be mindful of where the gutters will pour the rainwater and make sure they are redirected to force the water downhill to drain.

 

There are plenty of low-cost ways on the internet to have drainage temporarily fixed. The Rahn Companies is Stormwater certified and can fix your drainage. Give us a call for your free consultation and put the storm issues in the past!