The easiest place to install a drain is at the top of a hill. Most do-it-yourself drains depend on gravity to carry away water. If you are at the top of a hill, however, you probably don’t have a drainage problem! Still, there are some easy, but possibly time-consuming, inexpensive ways to drain water.
The first solution is for an area that is wet all the time because it is lower than the surrounding area. Add fill to bring the area up to grade. If site erosion is a concern, as on a slope, plant a groundcover or cover with landscape fabric and plant through that. If you want turf, follow instructions that come with the seed, or install sod.
If filling a depression does not apply, you can make a French drain. There are numerous versions of how this is done. I will offer alternatives. Before you begin, have an idea of to where you will drain the water. There are zoning laws about the drainage of water into streets and street drains, so it is best to consult a professional or at least be sure of the laws, before you start. Also, be sure you know where any buried utility lines are. You may need to call Dig Safe or each utility to have them locate and mark the lines. A French drain starts by the digging of a trench. The size varies based on the magnitude of the problem. They are usually 10-12 inches deep and 6 inches wide. The trench must slope downward at a rate of no less than ¼’ per foot of length. Some people line the trench with plastic. Some line with weed barrier fabric, and some with filter cloth. Add a couple of inches of gravel. At this point, most people add a length of perforated drainage pipe, possibly wrapped in filter fabric or weed barrier fabric. Some people skip the drainage pipe entirely, but drainage will be a little slower if you do. Cover the pipe with gravel. Again, you can place a layer of fabric over the gravel or not. Finish with a layer of sand. Some people add a layer of top soil in which to grow turf. Some people grow it in the sand. To summarize, the idea is to dig a trench that slopes away from the wet area and fill it with sand, gravel and/or drainage pipe. You can make it as simple or complex as you want.
Maybe your drainage problem is that of sudden, weather-related runoff. A French drain will do the trick, but there may be a nicer-looking way to fix the problem. You can make a dry streambed. Plan to where you want to drain the water. This relies on gravity, so requires a slight downhill slope. Remove sod as if you were going to install a sidewalk. Rent a sod cutter or do it by hand. A width of about 3 feet is attractive. Line the earth with weed block fabric. Artistically place decorative rocks of different sizes along and in the “river bed.” Cover the weed block fabric with some gravel or pebbles and sand to make the “stream.” If you want, you can take it a step further and place a garden border or strategic plantings along the edge of the “stream.”
Drainage of rainwater from gutters can be a problem. Back to the good old French drain! Another way to handle gutter drainage is with the installation of a rain barrel. Rain barrels are sold commercially, or you can make your own. The idea is to catch water from the gutters, store it, and then use it for irrigation. The barrel sits under the downspout and catches the runoff. A hose nozzle or faucet low on the side of the barrel is used to drain water into a watering can or to attach a hose for gravity drainage. This is an excellent way to be thrifty with water and solve a drainage problem at the same time. Be mindful that keeping a barrel of stagnant water is undesirable. It provides a place for mosquitoes to breed. Do not keep water in the barrel for more than three days. Alternately, there are “mosquito dunks” available. They are donut-shaped cakes of a virus (Bt) that infects mosquito larvae and kills them. Simply float them in the water as directed on the package. If there is a problem with debris falling in the barrel, use a cover cut so the gutter downspout goes through it.
You have several options as to how to get water to drain from an area you do not want it. The all-purpose French drain remains popular, but a dry streambed is beautiful and a rain barrel is practical. Good luck with the choice!
