Lawn and yard maintenance are a balancing act: too little water is just as bad as too much. We can’t always control the amount of water our lawn has to handle. A well-maintained lawn makes your property look beautiful and inviting, and can add a lot of appeal to your home.
However, poor yard drainage can lead to problems like flooding, soil erosion, and damage to your landscaping. Here are the surefire signs that indicate you have yard drainage problems and learn how a landscaper can help you fix them.
Standing Water
One of the most common signs of yard drainage problems is the presence of puddles and standing water. If you notice water pooling in certain areas of your yard after a rainfall or thunderstorm, it’s a sign the water is not draining properly.
Waterlogged or Compacted Soil
Soggy soil is a sign water isn’t draining properly and it can lead to root rot, which can kill your plants and trees. On the other end of the spectrum, soil that is compacted can prevent proper drainage, which leads to standing water and soil erosion. Look for areas where water is slow to absorb or where puddles form.
Soil Erosion
If you notice areas of your yard where the soil has eroded or washed away, water is flowing through that area too quickly. You need a change in grading to redirect the water and prevent further soil erosion.
Cracked Foundation or Basement Flooding
In general, you want the water flowing away from your home and out through the yard. If you notice cracks in your foundation, it may be a sign water is pooling around the base of your home. If your basement is flooding, you may very well have a drainage issue. Reach out to our lawn care company immediately for help if you think these might be the case. Along these lines, you may also have an issue with your gutters.
Look for overflowing gutters, water stains on your home’s exterior, or signs of erosion.
Foul Odor
If you notice a foul odor coming from your yard, it could be due to stagnant water or poor drainage. Look for puddles of standing water and see if you can locate the source.
How to Fix Drainage Problems in Your Yard
Yard drainage problems are common, but they can have a lot of dramatic effects if left untreated. Your landscapers at Executive Lawn Care can help you address these drainage problems in a number of ways.
Grading and Aerating
Our landscapers can help re-grade your yard so it slopes away from your home and towards a drainage point. If you have compacted soil that needs aeration, your landscaper can diagnose and treat it. Aeration breaks up the compacted soil to let the water flow where it needs to be.
French Drains
French drains are designed to redirect water through a trench filled with gravel or rock and a perforated pipe surrounded by landscape fabric. The trench is sloped to allow water to flow freely towards the desired exit point. It works by collecting water that would otherwise pool in a certain area, and redirecting it through the perforated pipe to a more suitable location.
Gutter Maintenance
Cleaning your gutters regularly can prevent water from overflowing and collecting near your home’s foundation.
Consider installing gutter guards to prevent debris from accumulating.
Swales and Dry Wells
Swales are shallow ditches that are dug into the ground to help direct water away from your home and towards a designated drainage point. Dry wells are underground pits filled with rocks that collect and store the excess water, allowing it to slowly percolate into the ground.
Rain Gardens
A landscaper can design and install a rain garden that will absorb and filter excess water from your yard. That’s a shallow depression typically planted with native vegetation, such as grasses and flowering plants, that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions. As rainwater flows into the rain garden, it is temporarily stored in the soil and absorbed by the plants, which help to filter out pollutants and excess nutrients.
Catch Small Drainage Problems Early
Yard drainage problems can cause a lot of damage to your landscaping and property. If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, it’s important to address the problem before it gets worse. By identifying the problem and taking steps to resolve it, you prevent further damage while improving the health and appearance of your yard.
Your landscaper can help you identify the cause of the problem and recommend solutions to fix it. Whether that’s installing a French drain, creating a grading plan, or improving soil quality, Executive Lawn Care can help you create a beautiful and well-maintained yard that will last for years to come. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re experiencing yard drainage problems. Reach out today for a quote and we’ll get your yard back in shape!
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