How to Form Up Trench Drains

Not all lawns have good drainage. Heavily compacted soils will prevent water from soaking into the lawn and flushing out properly. Steady rains or flash floods can cause water to collect in the lawn, damaging the grass and, potentially, the topsoil. Adding a trench drain to the lawn helps move water away from the home, where it can do damage to the foundation, and keep water from collecting on the grass. Building a trench drain is labor intensive, so give yourself a few days to complete the project.

Measuring tape
Shovel
Landscape fabric
Scissors
Washed gravel
Tamper
4-inch perforated pipe
Sod

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the low point of the lawn by finding where the water collects. You will aim your trench toward the low point.
- 2
  Dig a trench that is 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep leading toward the low point in the lawn.
- 3
  Place landscape fabric into the hole to cover the dirt. Cut the landscape fabric about an inch from the top of the trench.
- 4
  Spread 4 inches of washed gravel, a type of gravel available from rock suppliers, at the bottom of the trench. Compact the gravel using a tamping tool.
- 5
  Place a 4-inch perforated pipe into the trench.
- 6
  Pour washed gravel into the trench up to 1 inch from the top of the trench to cover the pipe.
- 7
  Cut a piece of sod from a discrete location in the yard or use a piece of sod from a reputable vendor. Lay the sod on top of the gravel.
- 8
  Press the sod down with a garden roller and water it so it is moist. Continue watering everyday until the sod takes hold.

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