Here are several of the best yard drainage solutions to try before spring showers hit your area.
verify there’s a minimum of 4 inches between the slope and the bottom of the siding.
Bagged topsoil and mulch aren’t the best for grading soil because they’re permeable andmay wash away.
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If any concrete or asphalt slabs are tilted toward the house, water can cascade to your foundation.
Replace hardscape materials with crushed gravel orpea gravelto encourage even drainage.
This is a labor-intensive but affordable DIY project.
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Build or purchase arain barreland place it next to a downspout.
By reconfiguring the downspout, you could send water into the barrelwhere it collects for later use in gardens.
This is one of the easiest and most affordable yard drainage solutions.
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Note
Certain states regulate rainwater collection and its manner of usage.
Check with local restrictions before setting up a rain barrel on your property.
T
his project starts with a narrow trench cut into the concrete or asphalt.
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Next, place a long channel drain in the trench.
When water hits the channel drain, it’s sent in another direction away from the house or garage.
Fortunately, aFrench drainis a low-cost DIY project to manage surface water.
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AFrench drainis a trench filled with permeable materials, such as gravel atop a perforated PVC pipe.
Water flows through the gravel and into the PVC pipe, and the pipe swiftly whisks the water away.
Aeration creates holes in the lawn to introduce air and nutrients and breaks up compacted soil underneath.
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Aeration also has another benefit: It promotes yard drainage.
Rather than pooling up on the lawn, the water trickles downward through thousands of holes.
However, a pro canaerate a large lawn for about $270.
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Use a spade, hoe, pitchfork, or tiller to overturn clumps of soil.
For larger yards, buy or rentmotorized versionsof these tools.
Amending dense clay soil will also loosen it up.
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We recommend organic matter or even pea gravel to affordably and easilyimprove heavy clay soil.
Send that water far away by installing a catch basin at the bottom of every downspout.
Water runs into the catch basin and then is taken away by buried PVC pipes to a drain emitter.
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For best results, a pro or an advanced DIYer should install a concrete or plastic catch basin system.
Constructed from various types of rocks, a dry creek bed acts as a planned channel for stormwater.
When it’s not busy moving water, a dry creek bed is abeautiful form of xeriscapingfor your yard.
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It’s also an easier DIY project that costs an affordable $3 to $4 a square foot.
Sometimes a downspout elbow has been added so the water doesn’t drive alongside the foundation.
double-check your home has a full set of properly sized gutters leading to downspouts.
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Clean out gutters and downspouts at least twice a year.
A gutter cleaning service should safely tackle the project for high rooflines.
They move the water through hidden pipes to a termination point such as a dry well.
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Installing a yard drain is labor-intensive but doable for a DIYer for under $100 a unit.
It’s a collection point for water and works in concert with other yard drainage methods.
A dry well installed by a professional can cost up to $5,000.
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The site selection for a rain garden needs to be precise so it does not create further drainage problems.
This affordableDIY garden projectcosts about $5 per square foot for materials, including plants.
A swale does not use pipes or other materials to capture and carry water.
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It is a subtle, mostly invisible drainage trench that looks like a natural part of your yard.
A narrow swale is an easier DIY project, though the digging can be hard work.
Try landscaping pros and professional drainage contractors to help you with this work.
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Coarse-grained soil is the best material to use as backfill for wet areas.
Rocks can be helpful with drainage when arranged to direct water.
They are also low-maintenance and durable.
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Pea gravel is the best pop in of stone for yard drainage.
The small size of the gravel and color options make this an ideal drainage material.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Drain System In Your Yard?Angie.
How Much Does a Dry Well Installation Cost?Angi?
Swale vs. French Drain: Which Is Best for Your Yard?Angi.
