How to Create Additional Drainage

Drainage is a huge issue in gardening. In some growing zones, where soil is sandy or loose, the question is how to prevent drainage. For most of us, the question is how to maximize drainage. We want the water to BE there for the plants, but we don't want it to STAY there to drown the plants, seep into the basement or rot the siding of our home.

This is a simple plan to add extra drainage to your home garden layout. This plan does not replace the need for the "weeping" system which should be properly installed and maintained to protect the foundation of every home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shovel or Spade
• Gravel or River Rock

1. You have heard this caution time and again, but there is no better time spent than the time it takes to call your local utility board. In most areas, one phone call is all that is required to have someone come out and mark all of your underground utility lines. That same call should be able to tell you how deeply those lines are buried. It is always best to have complete information before you begin.

2. This is a method to add drainage using rock "rivers" which direct rain water away from areas where it tends to pool around your plants or the foundation of your home. You need to identify the problem areas and choose an area where you want to send the water. Be careful not to send the water into a neighbor's yard or into a decorative pond. The redirected water may gather chemicals from fertilizers or other sources along the way which could harm the fish or turtles who call your pond home. Choose an area in full sun, if possible, so the water can evaporate as well as drain through the soil.

3. Once you have chosen the spot for your reservoir, lay out the path from the troubled area to the destination. Use a garden hose laid on the soil to mark out the smooth curves or straight lines that you want your shallow ditch to follow. Double check your plan against the information given to you by the utility board.

4. Plan ahead. You don't want to end up with another swampy mess. Be sure that you have enough stone to fill the reservoir or a number of thirsty plants (plants which need large amounts of water to thrive) to create a Drainage Garden.

5. Dig your reservoir first. The size and depth depend largely on your needs, but 2-3 feet in diameter should handle all but the most severe drainage problems. The sides should be sloped to a depth at the center of roughly 12 to 18 inches. Add the dirt to your compost pile or use it to build up other areas of your garden.

6. Using your shovel or spade, create a shallow trench along the line you marked with your garden hose. I chose to do this just after a hard rain so that the ground was relatively soft and I could see an immediate effect in the drainage from my problem area. It was a tremendously satisfying (and muddy) experience. If you prefer to choose a drier time, just be sure to test your trench by dumping a full bucket of water in your problem area and watching to be sure that it drains away down the trench.

7. 

   Fill in the trench with river rock, adding visual interest to your garden landscape along with additional drainage. Do the same to your reservoir, or plant your Drainage Garden now. The last time I did this, I had no idea that I would be writing about it so I didn't take photos of the process. This photo of the finished product shows the reservoir filled with rock (beneath the white stones), the trench covered with river rock and a thirsty willow shrub planted next to the trench. Get creative and have fun!