Trench Landscape Facts

Drain Tiles

• A drain tile is used to move water from one place to another. This can include moving water away from the foundation of a house or moving water out of a low spot in a farmer's field. A drain tile is a flexible tube with holes in the top. A trench is dug to hold drain tile, and the drain tile is covered with soil. Water percolates through the ground, enters the drain tile and is moved away. The ground above a drain tile is planted to hold the soil in place. Plants selected to be installed over a drain tile should have shallow enough roots to not interfere with the drain tile. This plant should also be able to withstand some drought-like conditions because the water will be drawn away from the drain tile area.

Rain Garden

• An open trench can be used at the edge of the road or around a parking lot to capture runoff of rainwater. These areas are excellent locations to plant a rain garden. A rain garden consists of plants that thrive in periodic standing water. They have long roots to anchor themselves in times of flooding. Wetland plants generally do well in rain gardens. Rain gardens prevent erosion because the plants slow down the force of the runoff. These deep-rooted plants also help filter the rainwater before it enters the water table.

Utility Lines

• Trenches are also used to hold utility wires such as gas and electric lines. The trench is dug, the lines are dropped and then the lines are covered with dirt. When gardening around a utility line, you must dig with care and use shallow-rooted plants. Keep in mind that if there is a problem with the underlying line, whatever is planted in that section will most likely have to be dug up.

Edging a Garden Bed

• Digging a trench at the edge of a flowerbed makes a good visual marking for the edge of the bed. The trench also provides a buffer between the garden and the lawn. Grass will not infiltrate a flowerbed if the trench between the bed and the lawn is kept free of grass. Conversely, ground cover and other spreading plants will not wander into the lawn if the trench is monitored.