November 3, 2025
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Drainage problems in your yard can cause significant issues, including damage to your home. While wet grass after rain is expected, a lawn that stays soggy for hours or days after a rainstorm isn’t good. If you notice pools of standing water in your yard, you have drainage issues that need to be addressed before they become expensive and time-consuming to fix. Many eco-friendly solutions can protect your yard year-round while working in harmony with the environment, rather than fighting against it.
After rainfall, some of the water evaporates, some is absorbed into existing water sources, like bogs, ponds, and lakes, and some is absorbed into the ground. In a completely natural world, about 50% of rainfall can be absorbed quickly enough to prevent issues like flooding or erosion. However, in areas with numerous buildings and human-made surfaces, like asphalt or concrete, water can’t be absorbed as quickly. In addition, construction can compact the soil, making it less able to absorb water. Given the high clay content of the region, the amount of rainfall that can be absorbed is significantly reduced. When that excess water doesn’t evaporate, integrate into an existing water source, or absorb into the ground, it is forced into a runoff situation, causing soggy spots and standing pools that last well after the rainfall is over. When left unattended, these soggy spots can cause a range of issues for your property.
Drainage solutions are designed to help manage excess water in your yard. If your yard is wet after a day of rain, that’s normal, but if your yard has soggy spots well after the sky has cleared, you need to develop a plan to protect both your land and your home from the issues that can be caused by excess water. If you ignore drainage solutions, you can face erosion, mosquito breeding in pools of standing water, damage to your lawn, and worst of all, basement flooding and damage to the foundation of your home. Once your foundation starts to show signs of water damage, the fixes become far more expensive. However, if drainage problems are partially caused by construction and overworking the soil, the last thing you want to do is add to those issues. Fortunately, many eco-friendly drainage solutions will reduce runoff and protect your property while supporting the environment. Eco-friendly drainage solutions combine aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability, controlling the movement of water around your property in a way that works with the environment, rather than trying to fight against it.
Rain gardens can be lovely additions to your landscaping while also solving some of your drainage problems. A rain garden will mimic a wetland area. When excess water is directed toward the rain garden, the vegetation planted there will thrive, and the water will be incorporated naturally. If you are considering a rain garden, work with your landscaping team to find the right spot for your rain garden, along with the right water-tolerant plants that will thrive in a wet area but still provide the aesthetic you want from your property.
Some hardscape and pavers used for walkways, patios, and hardscape don’t allow water to permeate the surface at all. These pavers provide great stability, but as they don’t allow water to pass through, they can cause drainage problems in your yard. Concrete, brick, and stone are durable, but if drainage is an issue, consider using permeable pavers as an eco-friendly alternative. Permeable pavers, like porous concrete, interlocking pavers with gaps, or crushed gravel or limestone, allow rainwater to move naturally through the water cycle, reducing runoff. If you are installing a new walkway, patio, or hardscape, it may be worth discussing with your landscaping team the use of permeable pavers to enhance drainage.
Both bioswales and dry creek beds are designed to manage excess water runoff away from areas where it can cause damage and direct it to places where it can be absorbed.
Dry creek beds, as the name suggests, are designed to mimic a natural creek. This “creek” will be dry during dry periods, but after rain, it will help move the water away from problem areas. A trench will be lined with rocks and gravel, and after rain, water will flow through the creek bed. Dry creek beds can be incorporated beautifully into landscape design.
Bioswales are similar, but they are usually planted with grasses, shrubs, and trees to help absorb water.
French drains are made up of a perforated pipe in a trench that is covered with gravel or rock that directs water from the areas you don’t want it (away from your foundation, or away from areas prone to flooding) toward a spot where it can be absorbed more easily and won’t cause damage. Usually, this trench will be about 6 inches wide and 18-24 inches deep.The structured path for the runoff will prevent erosion from occurring. Eco-friendly French drains incorporate natural materials as well as planting water-friendly vegetation on top of the drain. When installed correctly, not only will a French drain divert water away from soggy areas, but it will blend seamlessly into your landscape.
If you don’t know what you’re working with, finding the right solution can be nearly impossible. Attempting to tackle drainage issues on your own can often exacerbate the problem. A drainage contractor will be able to assess your property, identify problem areas, and develop solutions that integrate seamlessly into your landscaping in an eco-friendly manner.
You can’t ignore drainage problems and hope they’ll go away, but addressing them doesn’t mean that you are stuck with unattractive drains throughout your lawn and gardens. Many eco-friendly solutions will help divert water naturally while still allowing a beautiful landscape. If you are struggling with a soggy landscape, talk to a drainage contractor about your options.
Protect your yard and the environment. Call Twin Oaks Landscape today to explore eco-friendly drainage solutions that keep your property healthy year-round.
Our experienced and talented team of landscapers can take care of even the biggest projects. Contact us today, and let’s start talking about your new landscape!
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