Rain runoff problem for landscaping?

Question

One of my gutters empties right down the middle of my yard and has slowly caused the grass and dirt to erode. Now I have a small ditch that runs half the length of my yard. I've tried redirecting the flow using those plastic extenders, but the water always finds its way to this trench. How can I repair the trench (level it off) and is there anything I can do for this area (like laying paving stones, etc) that will prevent the same damage from reoccuring?

Answer 1

There are several ways to correct the problem, Here are a few:

1.) Install a "French Drain" along the area where the downspout empties into the yard

A french drain is a system that uses a 4" pipe which has 1/2" holes in the pipe every few inches and the pipe is burried about 6"-8" inches below the ground and surrounded with Pea Gravel.
The water seeps into the ground through the gravel and flows into the pipe through the holes and is diverted to different areas of your lawn (Direction of pipe) and then soaks back into the ground using the same holes.

This is a fairly easy fix and is not expensive at all.

2.) Dig a slight "Dip" or trench in your yard, Install a heavy plastic film and place a layer of small rocks on the plastic film and then cover them with a larger rock that will not wash away with the run off. And use this system to "Landscape" or divide sections of your yard such has a flower bed or hedge line.

This project is easy and not expensive either but will require maintanance every few years because the plastic film will rott after a period of time.

Also grass or plants will know be able to grow in the plastic area.

Hope this helps you.

Answer 2

I wouldn't go changing drainage, you don't want the water backing up towards the house!

You have two options (that I can think of with just one cup of coffee):

One is a "drainage garden." Oh, it has a fancy name which escapes me right now. (they are called "rain gardens"...you can google it) It is to retain water on your property and not let it run into the street/storm sewers thus not overloading that system and letting the water trickle down back into the earth. Where the water is ponding you create a garden.....lower the area even more, building up the sides to create a retention basin and then plant to water loving plants.

The second option is to make a french drain. There are drainage boxes.......sorta like mini septic vaults of heavy duty plastic........think about 4 foot diameter x 3-4 feet high box...that is sunk into the ground, filled with stone and with an export port so a pipe line can go to a lower level and discharge any overfill.

A third option is to make a "surface drain" from your depression.......make a trench to a better runoff area, line the trench with landscape fabric, fill with 1 inch stone, fold the fabric over the stone (think burrito), but the soil and grass back over the top. This way water will run through the burrito to the desired lower area.

Answer 3

Do you want it on the surface? As long as you have a screen in the trough to keep the downspout from jamming you could run it right into black flexible tubing underground and run that somewhere to drain, or just build a "french drain" right there, a hole filled with rock, usually lined with landscaping fabric or even a 55 gallon barrel with the ends cut out. Or you could make a "water feature" again with landscape fabric/plastic covered with plants, rocks and concrete or other such material, but such things require maintenance and are more time consuming/expensive, it just depends on what you like to do. Stagnant water causes insect issues, but if you live in a dry region a small frogpond might be a nice feature that kids will enjoy.

Answer 4

You can fill the ditch with garden soil and plant grass seed. You can buy quite a few items to stop this. There is a concrete piece you can lay down, a plastic tube type of item it has a flared spout to spread water and also another flexible spout that curls up when not in use and spreads out when water comes down. All are available at Home Depot.

Answer 5

How deep is the trench? you need to fill. either solid soil or if too deep use large stone fill then smaller leaving 3" for top soil. I would also crown that area to prevent water to repeat. when filling the trench it is a good way to get rid of other fill around your house.

Answer 6

I think if it were me I would consider it a blessing and make a small pond for the birds to enjoy and work with the elements but if you really don't like the birds and all the water then I think everyone has covered the subject pretty well thanks have a great day