Ways to Fix Yard Drainage Problems

Minor flooding issues in your yard can cause major issues if not addressed

Is the tune “rain, rain, go away…” stuck on repeat in your head lately? Here in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area you may find that your lawn and landscaping may be unable to withstand torrential downpours and constant rain showers. Standing water can potentially create many issues; it will definitely affect your ability to enjoy your outdoor living space.

Beyond its appearance and inconvenience, it can provide a breeding ground for pesky mosquitoes, cause basement or foundation problems, prevent you from mowing, and kill your grass. Flowing water can expose tree roots, penetrate your home’s foundation, and leave rivulets. Don’t drown in despair! Let’s explore some solutions for water drainage issues in your landscaping.

How to Combat Water Issues in Your Landscaping

Put in a Permeable Patio & Driveway

An increasingly popular solution to runoff water for homeowners is permeable pavers that use various materials. Solid, non-porous surfaces used in traditional patios and driveways typically direct water to drains, while porous surfaces allow water to filter and flow through the joints of the pavers and below to layers of aggregate. Permeable pavers create an eye-catching design, and they are an environmentally friendly choice.

Make a Rain Garden

One way to help with storm water runoff is to use plants to create a space that looks great. This is a sustainable and green solution for a problem area in your yard that collects water (or you can purposefully create an area surrounded by berm to serve as your rain garden). You can divert water from downspouts or drains to flow into it, and into the area where you’ve planted plants that will appreciate the moisture.

Add a Trench Drain

Using a trench or channel drain is a good solution for drainage problems near patios and hardscapes. This is a helpful solution where the sidewalk meets the front stoop, steps, entryway, or porch to your home. This will catch the water before it goes towards the front door and a connected pipe will redirect the water elsewhere.

Create a Dry Creek Bed

You can dig a shallow drainage ditch and line it with stones to carry water away from your lawn. Creating a small creek bed is not only a clever and green way to divert storm water, it also adds an undeniably natural visual appeal to your property.

Improve the Slope

Regrading the area can decrease flooding, and is especially useful when the concern is the foundation of your house. When water collects near the house slab, it can cause a load of costly damage in and around your home. Improving the slope of the land stops this from happening.

Install a French Drain

This may sound fancy, but really it’s just a pipe with small holes in it that collects water as it seeps underground and sends it away. The pipe typically has a sheath on its outside to stop debris from entering, and is buried in a trench surrounded by a bed of aggregate.

Use a Catch Basin

Set in a low-lying area on your property, a catch basin has a top grate that catches water and a pipe that extends from it at a slope to divert the water.

Extend Gutter Downspouts

If the downspouts from your home’s gutters are causing water runoff issues, then you can extend them out further to drain away from your home or you can put them underground. This solution can be used in conjunction with other drainage assistance, if needed, to divert water.

The answer to storm water drainage issues may be one of these, or a combination of them. A landscape professional can help you determine what will work best for your property and implement it. When your yard needs some TLC, let Full Circle Land Design help you come up with a drainage plan for storm water management. The experienced team can determine the best strategy and provide solutions to your standing water and drainage issues in Chattanooga and the surrounding areas: Cleveland, Ooltewah, Apison, Harrison, East Brainerd, Red Bank, and Soddy Daisy.

Full Circle Land Design also offers services including custom patios, outdoor kitchens, landscape design and installation, and more. Email, call 423-385-4955, or visit us online to get started with a consultation.