Drainage Projects

This year's dramatic lack of rain has left landscapes parched and dry. Eventually the cycle of drought will be followed by torrential rains that won't soak into the soil and instead will run off, creating a raging river, making walkways impassable and threatening home and landscape. Thus, this is a good time for landscape contractors to propose drainage projects to their clients.

If your clients' property is on a slope, or if features poor drainage and design issues, too much water is no small matter. It can cause structural damage to the home and foundation, and it can kill plants, trees and grass. Water left standing hours after a rain also breeds mosquitoes and can result in mold inside and outside of the home. These are just a few facts that contractors can list to help motivate clients to order drainage projects.

There are many options to address drainage issues, from simple downspout connectors and underground French drains that are not visible to attractive dry creek beds and rain gardens that can beautify the landscape while getting the job done.

Downspouts - One of the simplest solutions to runoff and drainage problems is to simply bury downspouts in the soil. If water from the roof, driveway or patio doesn't drain naturally, install a flexible downspout connector and extension pipe to direct the runoff out into the landscape. There the water can be dispersed throughout the lawn, instead of making a river on the walkway. (Be sure it always drains away from your foundation.)

Rain barrels - Rain barrels can collect runoff from the roof to store and use to water the landscape. Overflow pipes from rain barrels can also be directed into beds or rain gardens. Raising rain barrels, by placing them on cinder blocks, helps with flow. Smaller rain barrels are available at most nurseries and garden centers and can be placed at several downspouts around the home. Larger, more sophisticated rainwater collection systems are also available from many sources (Check this magazine's ad index for options).

As an added bonus, the City of Austin, Texas offers a rebate program for both non-pressurized and pressurized collection systems. For more information, go to www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/rwrebates.htm.

French drains - Another simple method to direct drainage is with a French drain. By digging a trench at the base of a slope in the problem area, it will capture and redistribute any unwanted excess water. A French drain is usually dug 1 to 2 feet deep, depending on the slope required for proper drainage. Filled with gravel and pipe, it is then covered over with grass or landscaping so it is not visible.

Dry creek - A dry creek bed can be created with or without a French drain underneath it to help direct the flow of water in your landscape. River rock, pea gravel or other rock material is used to create a swale along the draining area, with larger rock to line the outside edges of the bed and hold the rest of the rock in place.

Rain garden - Like a basin in the yard, a rain garden collects rainwater from the roof, sidewalks and landscape and channels it to soak into the soil instead of causing runoff problems. Planted with an assortment of native plants, a rain garden is an attractive and low-maintenance way to solve drainage issues. Choose a low spot in the yard that already draws water; the garden is dug out with a flat bottom, the depth based on the slope of the garden area. For clay soils, the fill for the hole should consist of sand, compost and topsoil, since clay gets waterlogged and won't drain properly. Then a berm (with a gentle, rounded slope) is placed around the downhill edge and up the sides. Native plants such as purple coneflower, rudbeckia and sedge are perfect for rain gardens because they require little care and will develop strong root systems. The plants should thrive in moist soil. Groundcover or grass on the berm will help prevent erosion and disruption of the plants during a big rain. As with other landscape beds, mulch well and water as you would for other new transplants, even when it doesn't rain. In a few years the plants will have strong root systems and will only need infrequent watering.