In addition to grading, drainage can be improved by using various products to keep water moving to prevent pooling and direct it to proper drainage routes while enhancing a lawn at the same time. Signs of poor drainage may include:
- Standing puddles of water after lawn irrigation or rainfall
- An increase in weeds that thrive in damp environments
- Soggy soil that feels squishy or wet to the touch
- Slow plant growth caused by excess water that prevents oxygen and nutrients from getting to a plant’s roots
- Wilting or yellow leaves caused by waterlogging that induces stress
Add Drainage Systems
Adding a drainage system, such as a French drain, to work with grading and gravity effectively prevents standing water. French drains prevent puddles from forming in a lawn, keep walkways, patios, and outdoor kitchens free of water, mud, and dirt that often washes onto stonescaped areas, and ensure a lawn’s sod stay healthy.
Creating dry rock beds also allows for proper drainage, keeping soil in place and slowing running water. These beds create the illusion of a stream bed but are excellent ways to ensure water efficiently soaks in without carrying your soil away.
Add Retaining Walls
Using various stone and hardscape mediums, retaining walls can be used to build up specific areas in a yard after addressing dips and depressions in a lawn that tend to hold water. When drainage systems are also applied, a colorful bed of flowers, long-lasting shrubs, or trees can be planted to create accented areas and features in a landscape that keep soil in place.
Enrich Soil to Prevent Compacting
Keeping soil healthy by adding organic materials and mulches can keep soil from compacting and preventing proper drainage. Soil, when compressed, can often become concrete-like, preventing water from soaking in and forcing it to run off and remove topsoil. Enriching soil provides a thriving ecosystem for flowers, shrubs, and trees that cool a lawn in a hot Texas summer and brighten a landscape with seasonal color.
Drainage and Grading Services Are Beneficial for Outdoor Living Spaces
The weather in Plano, TX, allows for extended use of outdoor spaces. Siara Design’s draining and grading services can create an outdoor area with your perfect patio and outdoor kitchen in mind. When planning outdoor gathering spaces, keeping them safe and dry is a priority.
Poor drainage in these areas can lead to shifting tiles and pavers while promoting weed growth. Your lawn is a palette to create a space that allows you to enjoy the outdoors safely, requiring minimal maintenance and more time for the activities you enjoy.
Freezing water in areas with poor drainage can also cause walkways, patios, and outdoor kitchen hardscaping and stonework to crack. Protect your investment by working with Siara Designs to protect your lawn through adequate drainage and grading practices.
