Simple But Effective Ways to Improve Drainage in Your Garden

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Your garden should be the perfect place to enjoy some fresh air no matter what time of year it is. It should be somewhere that you can relax, a place for entertaining friends, and a space for the kids to play in. But not all garden are suitable for use all year-long. One major issue that can cause problems in your garden is a lack of suitable drainage.

When your garden drainage isn’t working as well as it should, you could be left with lots of sitting water on its hardscape, a waterlogged lawn, and a backyard that feels completely unusable. If the problem is left unchecked, it can potentially cause further issues for your property, including damaging its foundation. As drainage issues can lead to bigger problems, it’s vital to get them dealt with quickly. Here are some ideas to help you improve the drainage in your garden:

Spot the Signs of Poor Drainage in Your Garden

Before you begin looking for ways to deal with drainage issues, it’s helpful to start by recognizing the signs of poor drainage in your garden. These include:

• A lawn that feels soggy even when it hasn’t rained.
• An unpleasant smell.
• Standing water pooling in areas of your garden.
• Cracks in your home’s foundation.
• Water marks appearing on walls.

Being alert to the possible signs of poor drainage will help you to spot drainage issues faster and fix them before they cause greater damage.

Check Your Manhole Frames and Covers

The manholes in your garden are something that you probably rarely think about. However, if there’s an issue with your manhole frames and covers, they could be at least partly responsible for your drainage issues. To spot whether your manholes in the garden are causing drainage issues, it’s helpful to take a look at your manhole frames and covers. 

A damaged manhole cover can allow debris to enter the drain. When larger pieces of debris manage to get through the cover and into the drain, the chances of the drain becoming clogged are much higher. A clogged drain can’t work effectively, meaning that the drain backs up, increasing the chances of your garden becoming waterlogged. Inspecting the manhole frame and cover will enable you to spot any signs of damage and to organize a replacement frame and cover if they’re needed.

Keep Your Gutters Clear

Your home’s gutters are designed to collect rainwater and channel it away through the downpipe and straight into the drain. However, if your gutters are blocked, or are damaged, they can no longer collect the rainwater, and will instead allow it to run down your home’s walls and onto the ground below. Unfortunately, when the water lands on the ground, it can begin to pool, which can cause a range of issues for your home and garden. When water sits on the ground rather than being channeled into your drains, it can start to permeate into the walls of your home, causing mold and mildew inside. If this exposure to moisture is prolonged, it can potentially cause damage to your home’s foundation, and lead to structural issues. 

To avoid the potential issues of clogged gutters, it’s wise to get them cleaned regularly to keep them clear of debris and less likely to become damaged. 

Plant More

A garden filled with patches of standing water can look less than attractive. However, there is a solution that can make your garden look better while also improving the drainage. Introducing more plants to your backyard can help to make use of some of that excess moisture, allowing it to be absorbed naturally. Plants will always hold some water in their root systems, but to maximize the amount of water that is absorbed, planting trees or bushes in your garden will deliver the most benefit. 

Choosing species of plants, trees, and bushes that thrive in moist conditions is a must, and could soon help you to improve your garden’s drainage while also adding extra color and interest to your outdoor space. 

Final Thoughts

The above methods should help to improve garden drainage and go some way to solving this issue. However, if you notice that the problem seems to be worsening or it’s not showing signs of improvement, it’s wise to seek professional guidance to get to the root of the issue. 

Regularly inspecting your gutters and manhole covers will help to reduce the chances of drain blockages or clogged gutters causing drainage issues, helping you keep your garden looking its best.