How to Stabilize Soil Around a Sunken Drainage Box

Native grasses hold the soil with their roots to stabilize it.

Sunken drainage boxes are usually placed under the soil to provide extra drainage in areas with poorly draining soil, like clay soil. If the soil around the drainage area is sinking toward the box, it's a good idea to stabilize it so you don't have a big sinkhole in the middle of your yard. Many plants work well at holding on to soil with their roots, thus stabilizing the soil.

Things You'll Need

• Compost
• Rake
• Plant seed or transplants

Instructions

1. Select plants to place over the sunken drainage box. Native grasses will hold on to the soil well as will deep-rooted ground cover plants, like goutweed, strawberries or violets.

2. Work 2 inches to 3 inches of compost into the soil. Apply the compost to the surface and work it in to a depth of 5 inches to 6 inches deep with a rake.

3. Plant the seeds or transplants in the soil. Sprinkle the seeds on the surface and cover them with ¼ inch to ½ inch of soil. Dig holes from the transplants as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the transplants into the holes and fill the holes with soil.

4. Water the plants well for 5 minutes.

References

• University of Texas: Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
• University of Illinois: Dealing with Shady Sites
• University of Minnesota; Ground Covers for Rough Sites; Mary H. Meyer and Michael E. Zins