10 Smart Landscaping Drainage Tips to Keep Your Yard Dry & Healthy

1. Grade Your Yard Properly
Ensure your yard slopes away from your home. A minimum slope of 2% (or about 1/4 inch per foot) will help divert water safely.

2. Use a French Drain System
Install a French drain—gravel-filled trenches with perforated pipe—to redirect water away from trouble spots like foundations or soggy lawns.

3. Build a Dry Creek Bed
Aesthetic and functional, a dry creek bed guides excess water through a shallow trench filled with rocks and plants. Perfect for heavy runoff areas.

4. Install a Rain Garden
Create a rain garden in a natural low spot to collect and filter stormwater. Use native, water-tolerant plants that thrive in wet-to-dry conditions.

5. Aerate Your Lawn
Compacted soil prevents water absorption. Regular lawn aeration improves infiltration and reduces pooling after heavy rain.

6. Add Organic Matter to Soil
Enrich clay-heavy or compacted soil with compost to improve drainage. Healthy soil holds and releases water more effectively.

7. Use Permeable Pavers
Replace concrete or asphalt with permeable pavers in driveways, patios, and walkways to allow water to seep through and reduce runoff.

8. Create Swales for Natural Flow
Swales are shallow, sloped channels that guide water across your property. Plant them with grass or erosion-resistant groundcovers.

9. Install Gutter Extensions & Rain Barrels
Direct downspout water away from your foundation using gutter extensions. Capture runoff in rain barrels for garden use.

10. Consider a Sump Pump or Catch Basin
In extreme cases, install a sump pump system or underground catch basin to manage significant water accumulation.

Contact us today for more smart landscaping drainage tips and help getting started!