How to Drain Rain Water
Rainwater that has no way to drain off a piece of land can saturate and destroy flower beds, turn grass to mud and cause structural damage to houses. Creating a backyard trench system funnels drainage to desired locations and prevents mosquito-attracting stagnant water from forming on the property. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Ball
- Ground markers
- Shovel
- Ruler
- Landscaping liner
- Scissors
- Gravel
- Sand
- Soil
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the location of the drainage trench. The ideal spot will reroute rainwater away from low-lying flower beds or lawns without disturbing neighboring plots. Every yard has different needs, but the bottom of a sloped area is ideal for catching rainwater runoff.
-
2
Check that the area has enough gradient for a trench by rolling a ball along the width of the chosen area to see that it moves in the direction rainwater should flow. A dramatic slope is not necessary for a small garden drainage system, and a slight downward slope is enough for gravity to move water. Exact measurements are only necessary for large trenches where a 1-degree gradient for every 100 feet of trench length is recommended.
-
-
3
Stake the length of the trench using twigs or Popsicle sticks as boundary markers so that no over-digging occurs. Trench length depends on the length of the property, but a trench along the entire length of the chosen gradient will capture the most water.
-
4
Use a shovel to dig a rectangular trench between 6 and 12 inches in width along the desired length of the drain.
-
5
Measure the depth of the trench using a ruler to ensure the drain is at least 10 inches deep. The depth may vary slightly in accordance with the slope of the land.
-
6
Lay landscaping plastic along the bottom of the finished trench, and cut it to fit using scissors. Allow 2 inches of plastic to lie outside the boundaries of the trench.
-
7
Pour medium-size landscaping gravel into the trench along its entire length. The gravel should fill the trench.
-
8
Cover the gravel with a layer of sand, and fold remaining liner flaps on top of the sand.
-
9
Finish the trench by covering it with a layer of topsoil.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Landscaping liner is the plastic liner used at the bottom of homemade ponds and is available at landscaping and garden centers. Thanks to this system, you can harvest rainwater. Use drains and barrels to collect rainwater for use in gardening.
The land around residential properties contains a number of pipes and wires. Always call your local municipality to check digging regulations in your area. The "Call Before You Dig" program suggests calling before digging to any depth in your yard, as utilities can be buried very close to the surface. Calling 811 first can prevent accidental and costly damage to underground lines.
