Yard Drainage Systems
Generally less
damaging but no less annoying than flooding in the
home, is flooding and swampiness in the yard. Submerged
patios, marshy lawns and fungal death in trees and
shrubs can render your yard an unusable wasteland
for 4 months of the year (if we have an uncharacteristic
cold spell, you can always lace up the skates and
spark up a neighborhood hockey game on your lawn).
The remedy for
this is to install a curtain
drain system in your
yard (sometimes referred to as French
drains or California
drains). Perforated PVC
plastic pipe is installed bedded in drain rock in
trenches cutting across the slope of the yard. The
number and location of these lateral trenches will
be dependent on the design of the landscape and the
severity of wetness. Generally, trenches should not
need to be less than 1.5m (5') apart.
In spots where
puddling is particularly bad, 3" low point surface
drains can be installed
(drain grates can be found in a subtle green or black
colour). These also provide excellent clean out points.
The system can
then be connected to the solid line of the house
perimeter drainage, preferably the rainwater
lead, or directed into
a ditch, seasonal pond or sump pit.
As with all drainage
projects, establishing a decent grade (slope)
is the key. There must always be a continuous grade
between every individual high (starting) point and
the outlet (connection to house system, ditch, etc.)
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