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Drainage System Solutions for Landscapes

A properly designed drainage system is essential for moving water away from your home or business. Improper drainage can be one of the biggest sources of trouble on your property. Standing water and erosion are both the result of inadequate planning.

If left unattended, these issues will detract from the appearance and usability of your landscape. Moreover, they can cause structural damage.

At Creech Landscape, we understand the importance of an effective drainage system. Our experienced team knows how to fix the drainage problems associated with the hard clay in North Atlanta. We offer a variety of yard drains and other custom solutions to prevent water from damaging your property.

Common Drainage Problems

Standing water on your property can cause a variety of problems. Structural damage, lawn disease, stunted root growth, and increased insect populations are all associated with these drainage issues.

Boggy Areas

Low areas in your landscape that collect excess water can make it impossible to engage in regular maintenance such as mowing. They also tend to become stagnant, acting as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. This makes your outdoor living space far less pleasant. It can even contribute to the spread of diseases such as West Nile virus.

WATER STANDING ON PAVED SURFACES

Driveways, walkways, terraces, patios and pool decks all require adequate drainage. If water stands on porous hard surfaces such as concrete, it will eventually break it down. This can cause cracking and settling, requiring expensive repairs.

WATER STANDING NEAR FOUNDATION

Standing water can undermine your home or business’ foundation. When water sits, it leads to mold and moisture problems, as well as cracks and instability. In some cases, it can even cause the structure to sink.

FLOODING/EROSION FROM DOWNSPOUTS

Downspouts that aren’t properly oriented send tremendous amounts of rainwater onto flowerbeds and hard surfaces. More importantly, that water can build up alongside the foundation of your home. Oversaturating the soil can lead to erosion, root rot, and a host of other issues that negatively impact your landscape plantings. You also want to ensure that water doesn’t pool near the house where it can affect your foundation.

COMPACTED CLAY SOIL

A particular issue in the Atlanta area is the hard clay soil. Clay absorbs water at a rate of less than ¼ inch per hour. This causes it to run off rather than nourishing your landscape. Alternately, once it has absorbed, it will hold onto large amounts of moisture. This makes clay soil problematic for both drainage and erosion. It’s particularly troublesome in new home construction, or when outdoor features such as pools are added. Large disturbances to the ground usually remove the topsoil layer, so that all you’re left with is poorly-draining clay.

Landscape Drainage System Types

These systems address common yard drainage problems. Our expert designers tailor them to suit your site and your landscape aesthetic.

SURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM: The most common type of drainage system, consisting of catch basins, channel drains or trench drains, and low-profile surface drains. This type of drain captures surface water in a drain. It then pipes the collected water to a lower exit point. For example, downspout and gutter systems.
FRENCH DRAIN: A French drain consists of a buried, perforated pipe wrapped in filter fabric and surrounded by gravel. The pipe directs underground water flow to a desired area rather than dispersing it throughout the landscape.
GRASSY SWALE: This area of lawn is also known as a sheet flow. It’s carefully graded to divert water away from the home. Guiding it toward a bog or drain, it disperses water over a larger area.
RAIN GARDEN: Particularly suitable for boggy areas, rain gardens are comprised of plants and flowers that tolerate standing water. They can also feature decorative items such as garden art and large rocks. This method not only fixes an existing problem, but it also beautifies your landscape.
DRY CREEK BED: This area is usually lined with large rounded river rocks. It directs storm runoff to a suitable location such as a drain or ditch, helping to prevent erosion.

For every drainage problem, there’s a drainage solution.

So often we see drainage systems improperly engineered. A poorly designed system can actually exacerbate drainage concerns. The outdoor experts at Creech Landscape can help you determine which is the right one for your property. Contact Creech Landscape to schedule a consultation.