Solutions for Yard Drainage

by Valerie Liles, Demand Media

Catch basins drain water away from your home and yard.

Managing excess water in your yard before it becomes a problem will save you time, money and aggravation. Channeling water away from your home's foundation, patio, driveway, play area or other low-lying areas will prevent pooling, mosquito infestations and serious erosion. Drainage is obviously important in high rainfall areas, but it's also important in areas where you want to retain and direct as much ground water as possible to support gardens, trees and shrubbery.

Gravel-Filled Trench

A French drain, or gravel-filled trench, is used where runoff is light. It catches and deflects water from elevated areas such as hillsides, roofs, patios and around swimming pool and ponds. These trenches are usually one foot deep by one foot wide, depending on the volume of water that will potentially go through it. The trench is filled with gravel and can extend the length of the yard.

Catch Basin

If you find low spots in your yard that are accumulating water, you may need a catch basin. A hole is dug at the lowest point in your yard to accommodate a plastic or concrete box and a length of PVC pipe. These boxes are available in several sizes at most large garden centers. They are designed to receive water through a grate when they are placed into a sloping trench with PVC pipe extending from the box along the trench toward a storm drain or dry well. Alternatively, the water can be redirected to plant beds.

Dry-Well

A dry-well is ideal in areas where it is illegal to tie into the local drain or storm system. Dry-wells allow accumulated water to gradually soak or seep into the ground through a 2- to 4-foot wide hole that is at least 3 feet deep, depending on the volume of water it needs to hold. The sides of hole are covered with landscape fabric to direct the water to the base of the hole. Trenches can be dug in problem areas to accommodate PVC pipe and directed toward the dry-well.

Grading

Grading is another possible solution for problematic yard drainage and entails re-grading or re-shaping the land. The goal is to move soil from one area to another putting it at the proper height and slope to ensure adequate drainage. Rough grading removes or adds enough soil to bring the surface to the correct height and slope, while finish grading prepares the landscape for planting. In most areas, adequate surface drainage requires a minimum of 2 1/2 to 3 inches of slope per 10 feet of ground.

Considerations

Utility companies are always notifying customers in mid-spring to “Be Careful Where You Dig,” and for good reason. A ditch witch trencher or sharp shovel can cause a lot of damage to underground utility lines, at your expense. You also need to make sure excess water has a legal exit path to a sewer or storm drain. Some building codes permit these lines, while other do not. If your house isn't connected to a sewer or drain system, you can direct it towards a septic tank or drainage field, just not your neighbor's flower garden.