Drainage Problems Around a House's Landscaping

Identification

• Large puddles are hard to miss. If standing water doesn't drain within an hour, the ground is saturated and would benefit from an underground system. Other signs of poor drainage include areas that remain muddy for days after a heavy rain and dying plants or trees, as extended exposure to water causes root rot in many varieties. Other problem areas are hard to see if they're disguised by gravel or other inorganic mulch, but mosquitoes and the heavy scent of mildew are red flags.

Soft Areas

• The simplest drainage problem to address is related to the type of soil you have. Clay soil absorbs less moisture, which can cause flooding or large puddles after a heavy rain. Address soft spots in the yard by mixing the soil with a layer of sand to make it more absorbent. To add sand, remove grass by sliding a spade beneath the roots and lifting the grass in patches. Turn the soil over and mix in a 4-inch layer of sand and cover the sanded soil with the patches of grass.

Underground Solutions

• The most effective and permanent drainage solution entails modifying a landscape to slope away from your home on all sides. A 2 percent slope is enough to direct water away from the home. Once the ground is sloped, underground drain pipes will catch water runoff and carry it to a street gutter or drainage ditch. Without underground drainage, you risk sending excess water into another area of your or your neighbor's yard. An underground system is a 4-inch perforated pipe laid 2 feet below ground on a 1 percent slope. The pipe is covered with gravel and grass to block debris and conceal the system.

Improve Conditions

• While slopes and drainage systems can take a few days to install, improving the growing conditions of dense soil or areas at the base of the slopes takes time. Consider planting water-tolerant trees and ornamental grasses at the base of slopes. Willows and river birch trees are examples of trees that absorb significant amounts of water and are less susceptible to root rot. Reed canary grass and ryegrass grow well in clay and tolerate poor drainage, slowing the flow of water runoff so it runs down into pipes.