When you have standing water around your home, it can be frustrating and difficult to maintain. Fortunately, making a few smart adjustments will allow your rainwater to drain faster, which helps with the maintenance of your lawn and yard. Regardless of how big or small your yard is, by focusing on both smart draining techniques and smart design ideas for your yard, you can improve functionality and cleanliness of your outdoor space.
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Keep Gutters And Downspouts Clear
This is one of the more obvious solutions, but it is critical. Gutters and downspouts are one of the simplest ways to keep excess water flowing. It’s much easier for you to direct rainwater flow when the water flows freely through your gutter and downspout system. Regularly inspecting your gutters and downspouts will prevent small obstructions from becoming large ones. The ability for water to flow in an area will allow that particular area to dry out faster than others after a heavy rainfall.
Improve Soil Drainage
When it rains, some soils allow for a quicker flow of water, while other soils absorb water very slowly. If puddles tend to linger in certain areas, improving the soil structure can help. One of the easiest ways to fix this problem is by adding organic material that encourages better water movement and supports healthier plant growth at the same time.
A yard that drains efficiently often requires less maintenance and remains more pleasant to use after rainy weather.
Choose Hard Surfaces That Let Water Pass Through
Traditional hard surface materials (such as driveway materials) cause most of the problems with water movement around residential properties. In many cases, these types of hardscape do not allow enough time for excess rainwater to percolate into the soil below.
Installing permeable pavers is a practical way to encourage natural drainage. These surfaces allow water to pass through rather than sit on top, helping to reduce puddles while maintaining an attractive appearance. Additionally, this type of paving allows homeowners to still have the aesthetic appeal of hardscaping but also provides them with improved functionality.
Create A Rain Garden
Rain gardens are landscaped areas used for collecting and absorbing rainwater. The gardens provide a means of utilising excess water as a valuable resource to add beauty to your property through the variety of colours and textures provided by their plant life. Rain gardens may be positioned in low spots so they will receive and hold run-off from nearby high points; this helps prevent standing water.
Adjust The Slope Of Problem Areas
Sometimes water gathers simply because the ground is uneven. Minor grading adjustments will often cause the water to go around problem areas rather than collecting there.
It is not always practical to hire a professional to do grading work. Sometimes, small changes in your landscaping will allow for better water drainage in the area you are trying to use as an “outdoor space”.
Simple Changes For A Drier Outdoor Space
Reducing standing water does not always require major renovations. There are many easy-to-accomplish changes that will make an improvement. All of these simple methods support healthy plants and improve your ability to manage your water resources.
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