What is the best way to deal with soil surrounding a house, so there is the least dampness?

Question

What I mean is, I would like to keep my house, which is prone to dampness, as dry as possible. I live in a city that's near the beach but is also a desert. We get little rain, but the foliage and ground become very moist at night.

I would like to either
1. cover the ground surrounding the house with cement or tiles or gravel or chips or???? (I fear this will only keep the soil more damp from underneath up, as the sun won't be able to get to that soil.)
or 2. buy succulents that take dampness out of the ground and plant them around the house, if that thinking is even correct--in other words, I'd like greenery, but nothing I'd have to water.
or 3. I'm open to any better ideas.

I am speaking of about two feet of ground, out from the house walls to the yard, and surrounding the entire house.
Any ideas?

I didn't mention ground cover, such as moss. Is something like that a possibility, or does it take watering?
(thanks)

Pontius, won't I have to water new foliage? What foliage do you recommend? It is true that foliage, as it grows will pull the moisture from the ground to itself. That's a good point, but it still needs watering. I was thinking if I put tiles, I could put plants in pots all about. Hmmmmmm.

Answer 1

With my house, I laid plastic film down and then filled with pea rock. All of this is sloped away from the house. It has worked well and it has cut down on the weed problem. Hope it works for you. I have some pictures on my 360 page, if you want to take a look.

Answer 2

Hi,This is a problem for many people who own old houses especially when they are built on clay soil. What I am going to suggest is hard work but will keep the damp out.
1. Locate the damp course membrane.Every house will have some way of keeping out the damp like this. The surface of the finished product must be 9 inches below this . Sorry I am not metric yet.
2. Dig a trench about 9 inches below the finished surface position and about 1 spades width, make sure that the trench slopes about 1inch in 24 inches so that any water will run away to the corners and lay large stones on the bottom of the trench. Line the wall with large stone as well. They can be old broken flag stones, pavers or bricks as long as they make a nearly continuous surface. The water will run down the slope away from the house to the corners where the stones can be less well fitting and leaky. It will seep into the ground and soak away. In places with high rainfall like the Scotish highlands they fill them with stones lined up to run in the direction you want the water to go, down the slope. In less wet conditions large gravel or cobbles could be added with a finer top layer of grit or pea shingle as a dressing. This must not come less than 9 inches below the damp course membrane. You can stand your pots or window boxes on this. Doing this all round the house will help with the damp issue. watering will not be a problem as any excess will drain away in the drain. These types of drains are called Roman/french drains and are very popular on old welsh farms which are built into the hillside.
As this is narrow you could plant climbers such a Honeysuckle in the remaining soil roll some chicken wire into saucages,placing it over the drain and allowing it to ramble over it. covering it but it can still be removed if necessary.

Answer 3

Hi,
I've always found that beds planted with ground cover type conifers such as juniper blue carpet is always dry. New plants would need watering till established but can then be left. Any use?

Answer 4

I'd definately go with foliage around your home. It won't totally suck the moisture out of the soil, but it will definately help and beautify your home as well.

Answer 5

Grade the soil so it slopes away from the foundation.

Answer 6

yes