The Importance Of Landscape Drainage
After successfully landscaping your property, filling it with trees, attractive shrubs and flowers, don't let all of this beauty wash away. Understanding the importance of landscape drainage will protect your investment, while adding an additional touch of attractiveness to your yard.
The Problems With Puddles
Besides being unsightly, puddles can cause a lot of problems in a landscaped yard. If too much water accumulates around the base of trees, shrubs or flowerbeds, root rot will develop on the plants, which will ultimately cause them to die. Landscape drainage doesn't have to be a large or expensive process; however, it does depend on the slope of your property and the placement of the plants. A simple fix for flowerbeds or shrubs is to pack the soil so that excess water runs off the plants. Raising flowerbeds or creating a berm, (an elevated mound), from rocks or mulch can direct extra water away from the plant's roots.
Proper landscape drainage also solves another nasty problem that affects yards. When water is allowed to collect in puddles, it gets stagnant and becomes the perfect breeding ground for insects. With many parts of the country affected by the West Nile virus, which is spread by insects, it's important to stop any accumulation of water on your property. Additionally, if water collects too close to the foundation of your home, there can be erosion issues that may be very costly to repair.
Functional And Beautiful
While landscape drainage serves a definite purpose, it can also be an attractive addition to any property. There are several types of drainage designs used in landscaped areas and each type offers both practicality and creativity. A drainage pond is an area created to hold excess water. It's made with decorative stones and gives the appearance of a natural pond. Various plants may be placed around it to add to the illusion of a peaceful pond in the middle of a yard.
Another popular landscape drainage system is a dry streambed. When rainfall amounts are normal, the water remains below the surface, but overflow from excess rain follows a carefully prepared path through the streambed. Once again, this area can be decorated with plants and shrubs to enhance its beauty while not diminishing its functionality.
A good landscape drainage system will take into account the natural contours of your property. The land may be expertly graded to create mounds, hills or slopes, which will direct water away from your costly plants and prevent root decay. If your property needs more than surface drainage, a series of perforated pipes may be laid underground to carry the water in the desired direction.
