Understanding Landscape Grading and Why It Is Important

As you prepare your lawn and flowerbeds for the season, one key thing to consider is landscape grading, the process of creating a properly sloped property that allows water from rain to drain away from your home. There are numerous times when you may need to use this type of service, but what is landscape grading, and why is it important?

What Is Landscape Grading?

Landscape grading refers to the process of leveling the soil and earth around an area or home. It is necessary when creating a new project, like installing a retaining wall or flowerbed, as well as solving water flow and erosion problems. With grading, machinery is used to help change the layout of the soil but also to create a compacted, solid surface from which it is possible to build.

When you are working on improving your yard in any way, grading can prove to be a vital component of the process. Depending on why it is done, it could be one of the best investments you can make into your lawn.

Why Is Landscape Grading Important?

There are several reasons why it may be necessary to grade your yard. It can be a problem solver for a variety of situations, including the following issues our Dallas landscapers often see.

Improve Water Flow Away from the Home

If you have a wet basement every time it rains, take a look at the grading of your home. Stand at a distance from the home and look at the soil around it. Does the soil seem lower near the house or higher near the house and slowly slope away?

If the slope is pointing to your home, that means that rainwater is going to run to your home, down your walls, and into the foundation. With landscape grading, it is possible to change that flow.

The soil can be built up, and a properly compacted, level area around your home can be created. This way, when it rains, the rain strikes the ground at the base of your home and naturally is pulled by gravity away from it.

Stabilize the Foundation for a Project

Another time that landscape grading is important is when you need to stabilize the ground for a project. You may have had a lawn in place for years, but now you are considering the investment in a pool, a structure like a retaining wall, or another larger item, even a building.

It is critical to build upwards on soil that is highly durable and offers a solid foundation. Otherwise, that could create structural weaknesses over time as the soil changes.

With this type of use, the goal is to properly compact the foundation soil and to ensure it has the proper grade to prevent water seepage into the foundation. Done with heavy equipment, this ensures a better result in every situation.

Put Irrigation Systems in Place

Another reason to have grading completed is when you are adding an irrigation system. Though a small irrigation system may not require a lot of work, larger ones do. That often means that if you are going to have the area graded, which leads to opening up the soil, this could be the ideal time to put in place an irrigation system.

This is a great choice for those who have larger gardens, flowerbeds, or a large lawn in an area where rain can be limited. With an irrigation system customized and installed for you, you reduce the risk of problems over time with having to lug out a hose to do the watering you need.

Signs You Need Landscape Grading

How do you know you need landscape grading? Though it is best to schedule a consultation with a landscape team to get a better idea of how well this can work for your needs, there are a few signs that you may want to invest in landscape grading now.

You can see obvious areas of uneven soil and earth, such as hills, in your landscaping, and you want to have an even, more level surface.
You have water entering the basement of your home after each rainstorm. You may wish to ensure that other factors, like your drain tiles and sewers, are not the cause of flooding in your home, as well.
The foundation walls of your home are crumbling, often due to the constant exposure to moisture caused by the pooling of water around the edges of your home.
You can see water moving toward your home during a rainstorm instead of away from it.
You plan to build a larger structure on your property, whether it is a retaining wall, patio, deck, or any other significant structure that needs a strong foundation.
There is significant soil erosion occurring around your home, and that is impacting your landscaping.
Your soil quality is failing, often due to standing water after rainstorms.

Even if you’re not sure that grading is a necessary investment for you, reach out to us for more insight and a quote. We are here to guide you every step of the way.

How Can Siara Designs Help You?

One of the first things we do is get an idea of what your goals are for your space. We then work to pinpoint any areas of challenges or concerns that may be limiting your success. Our team can provide an inspection for you and give you a good idea of whether or not grading is necessary for your property.

Grading is not always necessary, but when you have any signs of the need for it, it is critical that you take steps to improve your yard.

Set Up a Consultation Now

Siara Designs can provide you with a consultation and quote for any grading work you may need to be done. We can also answer your questions about landscape grading and why it is important for your particular property. Then, we can offer a customized, step-by-step process that allows us to help you find the best solution for your home.