Simple drainage solutions for yard & garden

by Hannah Sosinski 09/23/2024

If your yard is plagued with puddles and soggy spots, it might be time to consider drainage solutions. For yard drainage, there are plenty of DIY options you can handle without spending a fortune. Once you understand the causes of your drainage issues, you can find the best approach for improving a swamp situation.

Here is a basic guide to yard drainage issues and DIY solutions to consider:

What causes yard drainage problems?

Before you start researching strategies for improving drainage, take a careful assessment of your yard. There are many factors that can cause drainage issues:

  • Heavily compacted soil can make it difficult for excess water to drain through the ground, leaving it to accumulate on the surface. This can be especially troublesome for clay soil.
  • If your gutter downspout is not the right length, water might be pouring into a poorly draining part of your landscape.
  • Often, water can pool in your yard if your property is completely flat. Even the slightest slope or pitch can greatly affect the route and amount of water runoff.

Start by adjusting your watering habits

Before you start planning a major landscaping project, consider your current watering schedule and systems. Do you have drip irrigation or sprinklers that run automatically? Do you have a manual watering schedule that you could adjust? In some cases, you might just be watering too much or too often.

If you have an irrigation or sprinkler system, make sure it doesn’t have any leaks. Once you’ve ruled out the possibility of leaking, try adjusting your watering schedule to reduce the amount of standing water in your yard.

Downspouts, rain gardens & swales

If you discover that your drainage issues stem from your gutter downspout, the solution could be as simple as extending it. Extend and aim the downspout away from the home and toward a storm drain or other safe drainage source.

A rain garden is another way to ease drainage issues by creating a place specifically for water to gather. Rain gardens are designed to capture and slowly absorb runoff, all while promoting lush plant growth and beautifying the yard.

For more serious drainage problems, consider digging an artificial creek or swale to route water properly. By digging a long, shallow trench and filling it with gravel or rocks, you can divert runoff towards storm drains without allowing standing water to accumulate in the yard.

These are only a few basic yard drainage solutions to consider. If you’re still having trouble with excess water, it’s a good idea to consult a landscaping professional to find the best option for your yard.

About the Author
Author

Hannah Sosinski

 I started my career in the real estate industry at the age of sixteen and instantly fell in love.

I worked alongside one of the top producing agents in the country as their administrative assistant for nearly nine years before I took the leap to begin my own journey in the real estate industry.
Working alongside an agent who sells over three hundred houses a year educated me strongly on the Pittsburgh and greater Pittsburgh housing market. While working alongside this agent, I was lucky enough to be involved in several different types of real estate transactions and learned to properly determine home values, many aspects of negotiations and have learned how to close challenging deals while also handling a large amount of deals at the same time.

I have also spent the past seven years working as a property manager throughout Allegheny, Washington and Fayette County. I have managed everything from Section 8 to Luxury units.

Exploring the options of the real estate industry can be overwhelming. While working with me you’re able to sit back and relax as I have worked with many investors, home sellers and buyers and can help guide through the sale or purchase of your home and make it as easy on you as possible.

Whether you’re a first time home owner, downsizing, sizing up, looking to make your first/second or third investment, selling your home, etc. I can use my years of education to help guide you through the purchase or sale of the largest investment of your life.

I look forward to chatting about real estate with you!