In our last article, we discussed the importance of having proper drainage systems installed in your lawn to keep your home looking its best. We shared the most prevalent problems that occur with homes without these systems — flooding and pooling, contamination and plant death, and soil erosion quickly leading to foundation damage.
If you do have drainage installed, perhaps from a previous owner, this is a great start. Here, we will discuss methods by which landscapers can take your drainage system from good to great, in order to take care of your lawn as efficiently as possible and prevent underlying issues that may still occur with an outdated system.
Mapping it out: create a plan tailored to your home’s surroundings
Each home is different and requires different installation methods. Before you contact Modern Landscapes to install drainage updates, observe your home for any areas that need special attention. Are there any especially low areas that hold water easily? Does water naturally flow towards your home, causing soakage and pooling? Make note of these areas, as they can inform whether or not the path of your drainage system is equally distributed.
From there, observe where the water comes from to impact those areas. Sometimes, home updates can impact a yard’s ability to hold water or a drainage system’s abilities that were once perfectly fine. This can come in the form of a new roof with slick shingles, changing the layout of gutters along your home’s edges, or decorations like bird baths that pool water. All of these things can be accounted for, and the drainage system can be altered to suit your new needs.
The best path for water to take is away from you and your neighbors, towards the community storm water/drainage system. Modern Landscapes can visualize how best to go about setting that path to avoid conflict.
The advantages of installing French drains to your system
Of all of your options for drainage systems that do the job well, French drains are an optimum solution that suit many different yard layouts and needs.
French drains are created by filling ditches with gravel and installing a tube-like structure atop the filling. This prevents water from soaking the ditch and allows it to deplete elsewhere.
French drains are a great solution for large areas where water flows in from several directions, as they can include multiple openings for water to enter and disperse. They are efficient, replace open ditches (which can cause injury for those unaware of them), and can be incorporated with many other types of drainage, such as gutters, to create a landscape that truly works best for your specific concerns.
These are our top tips to satisfy all of your drainage needs — but it’s always best to consult the experts. Modern Landscapes has delivered expert service to Ambler, PA and the surrounding areas since 1992. We’ll work within your budget and around any preexisting work to take it to the next level. Contact us today to discuss your lawn drainage needs!
