How to Create Drainage in a Yard for Basement Window Wells

Plan the route for each French drain ahead of time. Start the drains near the house and in wet areas to funnel the water away from the foundation and basement windows. Run the drains toward the road or a convenient drainage area. Mark your rough path with flour.

Dig a trench for each drain. Dig the trench 5 to 6 inches wide and 5 to 6 inches deep at its starting point. Increase the depth by 1/2 inch every 1 foot to build a downward slope to encourage drainage, and extend the trench all the way to your drainage area.

Lay 1 to 2 inches of gravel on the bottom of the trenches for security, then line the trenches with landscape fabric. Leave excess landscape fabric at the sides so that the fabric extends across the bottom of each trench, up both sides and out onto the soil surface.

Lay a drainage pipe in the trench, with any extra drainage holes in the pipe facing down. Turn the end of the pipe up at the top end of the trench so that the opening to the pipe is facing the sky at soil level. This position helps collect rainwater and runoff for drainage.

Fold the edges of the landscape fabric over the drainage pipe and cover it with 2 to 3 inches of gravel. Fill the remaining space in the trench with topsoil to hide the drain or use decorative river rocks for a faux creek bed look.