French Drain Tile System Installation

Insert wooden stakes through the problem areas in your yard. Focus on areas where puddles stand longer than one hour, spots with soft ground and areas with exposed dirt, dying plants and other signs of erosion. Tie a string around the stakes from the furthest point to a chosen dry area, drainage ditch or street gutter.

Unearth a channel with a shovel along the marked out course measuring 6 inches wide and 18 inches deep. Cut down the sides of the channel on a curve so water flows through easier, and dig 1 inch deeper every 100 feet of distance to slope the bottom so water will flow toward the outlet.

Add a 6-inch layer of gravel over the base of the canal and tamp it down with a hand tamper.

Lay 4-inch drain tiles in the center of the canal. Turn the tiles so the holes face upward if there are only perforations on one side of the tile. Pull a pipe sock over the tile as you lay it down to protect it from mud and debris.

Pour 6 inches of gravel on top of the pipe and cover the gravel with landscape fabric. The fabric helps block large debris like sticks and leaves from clogging the pathway.

Cover the gravel with soil. If your soil has a clay consistency, mix it with an equal amount of sand so water will drain through easier. Seed the exposed area with grass seed so it doesn't erode.