How to Make a French Ditch

A French drain system is not the easiest do-it-yourself project that you could undertake, but it can be highly effective in solving yard drainage problems. Because of how extensive it can get, you should have some experience when taking on this challenge or you should at least ask someone to help you who has completed similar projects in the past. Once you make a ditch for your French drain system, you will no longer have to experience pools of water and flooding on your property.

Shovel
Drain pipe
Gravel

Instructions

- 1
  Choose the location for the ditch. The location should start at the lowest spot on your property or the area where the water is continuously pooling up and end where the water will drain away. The entire drain system needs to be added to an area of your property that moves continuously downward to allow the water to drain away from your house.
- 2
  Use a shovel to dig the drain system. For optimal drainage, the ditch should be at least 20 feet long. For a 4-inch drain pipe, the ditch needs to be about 6 inches wide and 10 inches deep.
- 3
  Fill the ditch with 2 inches of gravel to help with drainage. Smooth them out with your shovel.
- 4
  Install the drain pipe. The drain pipe should run the entire length of the ditch you dug.
- 5
  Add another layer of gravel on top of the drain pipe once it's installed. Again, a 2-inch layer will be sufficient.
- 6
  Cover the top layer of rocks with soil to completely conceal the French ditch draining system.

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