Land drains in gardens are usually drained to a central point and this is usually a soakaway. A soakaway is simply a hole in the ground filled with rubble and coarse stone with a drainage pipe laid to it removing surface (rain) water from other areas. The soil in which the soakaway is placed must be granular with good drainage properties. It is pointless sinking a soakaway in clay unless there is a more porous layer underneath. The diagram below is not to scale. In some cases,digging ditches about 90cm (3ft) deep with sloping sides across the lower end of a slope will be enoughto take excess surface water.You may need to hire a small pedestrian controlled trenching machine for this. French ditches

A professionally installed drainage system lasts 15 to 40 years with proper maintenance. To ensure a long-lasting drain: Your garden is located at the bottom of a slope or hill and receives high amounts of surface runoff water. Perforated land drainage pipe coils collect surface water through small holes cut in the dwells of the coil. Their flexible pipe coil structure has a 90 degree bend radius over 1m. In agriculture, this assists drainage in fields and improves soil quality. In construction, it alleviates flooding and relieves static load on underground structures and retaining walls. A cheaper method of achieving land drainage which is, historically, used to remove surface water from the perimeter of a house or patio, is a French Drain. An exterior footing drain requires excavating 4 to 6+ feet down to the footings and exposing the foundation walls. A waterproofing coating or membrane is applied to the foundation walls. Then, an exterior French drain with perforated PVC pipe is installed next to the foundation footing, and the excavation is filled with drainage gravel.

Soggy yard? Here are your options.

Firstly you must consider the fact that all drainage systems work because water will always flow to the lowest point, so you need to design the system so that the drainage water will drain to the lowest point in your garden – into a ditch or a soak away. To achieve this, all the drainage pipes you have must have a fall on them no less than 1 in 200 in the direction you wish the water to flow (ideally 10 mm fall for every metre of pipe laid). DIY drainage work is typically not advisable and depends on the severity of the problem and specific needs of the property. Hiring a professional saves time, guarantees a long-lasting drainage solution, and they will determine: deep and link the main drain to the centre of the soak away. Bear in mind if you hit clay when digging out the soak away it's not going to drain and you will need to look at either connecting Uneven lawn or garden surfaces. On clay and other water retentive soils, the flow of water through the soil is very slow made worse by Simply install a drainage space as close to the centre of the issue as possible giving the surface water an underground space to sit and drain away.

If you have a low spot in your yard that tends to collect and retain water, consider building a rain garden. A rain garden is simply an area of your yard that’s designed to catch water and is filled with water-loving plants. It doesn’t really solve a soggy yard problem, but a rain garden looks a lot better than a muddy hole. Plus, rain gardens are good for the environment. They reduce runoff and the lawn chemicals, pet waste and sediment that go along with it.The GardenAdvice lawn experts show you how to install a drainage system in your lawn with the minimum of hassle. Most drainage systems are based on agricultural systems, which can be very effective in a garden lawn or a sports ground set up. Exterior drain tiles are more expensive than interior drain tiles, but the large excavation and waterproofing barrier prevents water from entering the basement or crawl space completely. Garden drainage is a growing issue in the UK as more and more houses are built on clay soil with no consideration for water run off. With the recent years bringing storms, any areas which were going to flood have done so much to the frustration of the owners and users. Most exterior drains cover an area 10' to 100' long by 6" wide, to a depth that slopes down 16" or deeper. Interior basement French drains are often the same length as the perimeter or slightly larger. Where Does The Water From Drains Go? Drainage systems are typically installed near house foundations with only gravel covering the drain. Drains are placed in the basement, crawl space, or exterior of the home and are either deep or shallow, which drastically affects the cost.

Subsoil and topsoil were mixed together during property construction, creating compacted soil that water has a hard time draining through. The Geo Textile Fabric will also stop, or at least dissuade, any local roots seeking out a greater water source. A root system can clog or even break a land drain system quite easily. Geo Textile fabric is a polypropylene mat used to suppress weeds and control soil erosion while allowing the controlled passage of water and air. Start by making a swale-essentially a gentle, shallow drainage ditch. Then line it with gravel or stones and add interest with boulders, a bridge or plantings. One of the best, and easiest, ways to improve drainage in your garden is to simply grow more plants. It's also a relatively inexpensive solution, and in the long run, will make your garden look nicer too.

Build a Rain Garden

When you're experiencing drainage problems in your yard, call a landscaper, plumber, or waterproofing company that's experienced with drains. Professionals will custom-design the best drainage solution for your water-management issues. Does Homeowners Insurance cover drainage systems?

The key to designing and installing a drainage system in a lawn is to remember that the water must be able to travel from the surface to the drain, which is installed under the lawn.A drain should be 8 to 24 inches deep and between 6 and 12 inches wide, depending on the extent of the drainage problem. Surface-pooling water requires a shallow trench, and protecting a foundation or basement requires drainage pipes 2' deep or more. To finish, replace surrounding turf so that your new turf blends seamlessly. Remove a little soil and replace with sand to improve drainage of the whole area. A Soakaway must be at least 5 metres from any habitable building, by local authority regulations. The pipe flowing to them should be of at least 75mm diameter which is the minimum pipe size for any surface water drainage. 80mm is the recommended size.