Dampness around house......lots of it...?

Question

The many shade trees,magnolia and pine, are producing so many leaves that the lack of sunlight has killed most of the grass near the house....Without cutting the trees down(too big,too old) is there anything else that I can do to keep the ground next to the house from staying so damp all year round?????? Many Thanks to all!

Answer 1

build the earth up around your house so any excess water will drain away.just an inch or so should do it. it does`nt even have to be a noticeable rise. you could also try planting some shade-loving plants, such as hostas next to the house, good luck.

Answer 2

Do you have any sort of weeping tile system to aid in underground drainage? Sometimes planting other types of plants in that area may help. I use "shade tolerant" grass. It really helps keep the dampness down to a minimum for myself because of the amount of water it uses. Doesn;'t need a lot of sun either!

Answer 3

Check the drainage around your house and make sure all your downspouts direct the water well away from your foundation. Keep the soil around your house loose by digging/aerating it once or twice a year. Just some suggestions a property inspector gave me once.

Answer 4

You can tile it. That is put a drainage system in that would help pull moisture away from the house. If you are not on a grade, you can still put one in and have it drain into a buried drum and pumped out to an area away from the house.

Answer 5

trim some of the trunks of the trees to let free some sunlight

Answer 6

Could you hire a horticulturist to trim some branches to let some sunlight in?

Answer 7

Hope what the first answer says is right. You don't want to leave it damp all year long - brings bugs and rodents.

Answer 8

I blame Al Gore for your problems once you have killed him all will be fixed