Rainy days and thunderstorms are amazing weather events for your trees, shrubs, flowers and grass. However, if your property is not equipped with proper drainage it can lead to expensive issues such as water infiltrating your home, erosion, plant injury and much more.
Georgia Yard Drainage Options
French Drains & Drain Tile
If your yard doesn’t hold water very well, then employing a below surface outdoor drainage system may be needed. One of the most popular is a French drain, commonly referred to as “drain tile”. This type of system involves digging a trench in the space where water is accumulating. Once the channel is excavated, drain pipe and rock will be installed before covering it with soil.
Since most properties near Metro Atlanta feature clay-based soil that doesn’t absorb large volumes of water as efficiently as sand or loam, a solid pipe can be used to send water from that location to one within your yard that is adequately equipped to handle larger volumes of water.
When a retaining wall is constructed, drain tile may be used to alleviate the pressure put on the wall when the soil becomes wet and heavy. Depending on the wall’s height, the slope and other terrain, the pipe may be placed behind the wall and disperse water elsewhere, or it could be installed in the wall and water flows through and runs down the front of the wall.
Grading
Since flooding happens in the low parts of your yard and can lead to expensive problems, a more holistic approach involves increasing the elevation of an area with grading to establish a slope for water to run down. For properties with existing lawn areas or landscaping, this involves removing the existing material, and then adding soil beneath it and grading it out with proper slope, and then installing new landscaping and sod.
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens offer the functionality of a drainage system while also providing aesthetics. Rain gardens are a common application on properties with a natural drainage ditch (or if one can be created with grading to establish a slope) to collect water that runs off the streets and other hard surfaces. These gardens feature plants that are tolerant to harsh conditions such as full-sun, large volumes of water and more. The ground covering material that is used can either be mulch or decorative rock.
Dry Creek Beds
Dry creek beds are just as the name sounds. This generally involves digging a trench at a specified depth (depending on how much water is anticipated to flow through), then installing rock with varying sizes. The types of rock used are typically river rock or limestone. The slope of the trench is set to direct the water to an area that’s better equipped to handle the volume, or the entire system holds the water that flows in and eventually evaporates.
Protecting Your Home and Property with Landscape Drainage
Outdoor drainage for your lawn and landscaping lowers your risk of experiencing a flooded home, eroding areas, much more. If you’re located in the northeastern Atlanta metro and need to have your property assessed for a possible drainage solution, contact the professionals at Infantry Landscaping today.
