Here's How Landscaping Changes Can Improve Drainage in Somers and Cortlandt Manor, NY

Improper drainage is one of those problems that may not cause issues until it’s too late, with devastating consequences to a home and landscape. The symptoms of improper drainage can go unnoticed for days, weeks, or even months and the resulting cleanup and fixing of a landscape can reach into the many thousands of dollars. Before you get blindsided by a drainage problem, here’s how landscaping changes can improve drainage in Somers and Cortlandt Manor, NY.

How Can Drainage Problems Get So Bad?

No matter what, water will always find a way to flow downhill, taking the path of least resistance. However, some of this movement can be obscured (though not stopped) by vegetation, and if it occurs on a part of the landscape you don’t use much, problems can go unnoticed for some time. Unfortunately, the cure is always much more difficult than taking preventive measures.

Grading a Slope

If surface water is flowing directly towards your landscape features or home, a good first step is to provide a slope for the water to flow in the right direction. Grading can solve some drainage problems simply by introducing a slope. A downhill grade of at least two percent will be beneficial and three percent will be even better. Grading can enhance drainage on flat land by building up certain areas and slightly excavating others.

Installing Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are designed to help prevent erosion on a hillside. Among the many other benefits of a retaining wall are the expansion of usable outdoor living space, an increase in vertical interest, the housing of light fixtures, additional casual seating, and more. For drainage purposes, a retaining wall can direct water across your landscape. The walls can be engineered to contain drainage channels and pipes which will prevent buildup of the immense pressure of water-logged soil.

Drainage Channels

In conjunction with a graded slope and a retaining wall, drainage channels can make a huge improvement in the health and safety of a landscape. A drainage channel should be used at the point where lots of water can be expected to collect, such as leading away from a downspout. For excess water flow, these channels can be reinforced with either concrete or stone masonry to minimize erosion during heavy flows.

Drainage Pipes

The use of drainage pipes underneath your landscape features can provide a wonderful solution to excess surface water. Catchment drains are the key for drainage pipes to be successful, however, as they can be clogged with plant debris and require routine unblocking maintenance from drainage professionals.

Permeable Surfaces

The paved surfaces of your landscape cover a considerable amount of total area. Impermeable paved surfaces prevent water from seeping into the ground and joining the underground supply; which means the water has to go somewhere. It will either collect in low spots, or flood over the landscape. A permeable paver surface features larger joints and a special substrate. Permeable pavers help with drainage problems around your driveway or outdoor living spaces by allowing much of the surface water to absorb into the ground. This will also improve the health of your landscape and masonry surfaces by avoiding costly freeze-thaw damage.

Catch Basins

Catch basins can do double duty as attractive landscape features. For example, a naturalistic pond surrounded by native vegetation and rocks can easily accommodate drainage from several channels on the property while enhancing the beauty of the landscape.