Drainage is an essential part of caring for your lawn. It removes excess water to prevent waterlogging that could lead to root rot, poor plant growth, and messy, muddy yards. With effective drainage, water flows away from your yard, keeping the lawn healthier and more resilient.

Why Proper Drainage is Important

Excess water can cause several issues in your yard, such as soil erosion and damage to grass and roots. Additionally, overly wet conditions can cause fungal disease, and you may find that your yard has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

With proper drainage, these issues can be avoided, ensuring that your lawn remains lush and green, with the right moisture levels to promote healthy root growth and prevent disease.

Adequate drainage will help to maintain the levels of air and water in the soil, ensuring that roots get the oxygen they need to thrive, while also promoting the absorption of nutrients. The result is healthier, more resilient grass.

Drainage Methods and Solutions

Several methods can be used to help ensure proper drainage in your yard, including these key methods:

• French Drains: French drains are trenches filled with gravel and perforated pipe. This simple but effective drainage solution prevents water from pooling in low spots by redirecting water away from problem areas.

• Dry Wells: A dry well is an underground structure that collects excess water and slowly disperses it deep into the ground. This is an ideal solution for areas with poor surface drainage. It is cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

• Rain Gardens: Rain gardens are not only attractive but also effective at managing excess water on your property. They are a natural, self-sustaining system that allows water to accumulate in a shallow depression, and then gradually filter into the soil. They reduce runoff and promote groundwater recharge.

• Water-Absorbing Plants: Water-absorbing plants work well in addition to rain gardens by using plants that thrive in wet conditions. Use plants native to your area for the best results.

• Corrugated Plastic Tubes: This simple but effective method involves burying a plastic pipe that is connected to a downspout or other drainage system. The pipe is perforated and surrounded by gravel, allowing water to filter through and into the ground.

• Paving Materials: Concrete, asphalt, plastic pavers, and other materials can be used on driveways and walkways to help with drainage. These materials are placed with small gaps that allow water to filter through into a gravel layer, and then into the ground.

• Grassy Swale: A grassy swale is a ditch or natural depression in your yard that is designed to channel excess water away from one area toward another. They are typically lined with grass or other vegetation, which helps with absorption and preventing erosion.

• Grading: Proper grading involves sloping the land away from structures and low spots, causing water to flow away from the yard.

Is It Expensive to Have Drainage in My Backyard?

There are several factors that determine the cost of installing a drainage solution, notably the size of your yard, the type of soil, and the specific drainage solution. A homeowner can generally expect to pay between $1,000 and $5,000 for a lawn drainage solution.

Materials and tools required for drainage solutions may include:

• Gravel: Used in French drains and as a base layer for other drainage systems.
• Perforated Pipes: Used in subsurface drainage and French drains.
• Dry Well Units: To disperse water underground.
• Landscaping Fabric: Prevents soil from clogging drainage pipes.
• Excavation Tools: Shovels, trenchers, and backhoes for digging trenches and installing systems.

Labour costs can add significantly to the expense, especially for complex installation, but this is a wise investment that can prevent costly water damage and maintain your lawn’s health.

Hiring Experts for Drainage Solutions

Some homeowners may wish to install drainage as a DIY project, but hiring a professional ensures that the job is done correctly and to a high standard. Expert drainage professionals will assess your yard to find the best drainage solution for your needs, and then install it correctly. Their experience and knowledge may cost more than doing it yourself, but you will save money in the long run with a healthy, beautiful lawn.

Find out about the best drainage solution services by calling us today!