The Importance of Proper Drainage

When we meet with clients for a consultation, to survey their property and discuss the improvements they'd like to see in their yard, they are usually focused on making their property more attractive and creating more usable space. Unless they are already experiencing problems, the topic of proper drainage may not be at the forefront of their minds – and it may not be on the minds of all landscapers either.

During the planning and designing stages of any landscaping project we do, we assess where on the property water is going to flow. If the land needs to be re-graded, or if track drains (or other types of drainage systems) need to be installed, we want to know ahead of time – that way your landscape won't be susceptible to water damage and will stay beautiful for years to come.

In this project, we were called in to add drainage to an existing landscape, which another landscaping company had neglected to do during the initial installation. Because there was insufficient drainage, the concrete surrounding the homeowner's pool had started to crack and heave, and other parts of the landscape were being affected, as well.

We started the project by first cutting out the damaged sections of concrete to make room for the new track drains to be installed. Track drains are an unobtrusive, effective, and common way to add drainage to your landscape, and as in this case, can be fit into an existing hardscape (though it's more economical to tackle all drainage needs from the outset of a landscaping project).

When there's excess water on the pool deck, it will flow into the track drains; the drains are connected to a larger drain box, situated nearby, which collects all the water from the track drains.

Connected to the drain box, and winding its way through the landscape, is piping, which directs the water away from the landscaping.

The piping goes from the track drains and drain box, near the stairs, and continues underneath the retaining wall; once the installation is complete, the piping will be buried and the landscaping restored.

With the project nearing completion, the landscape returned to its former glory, and the drainage piping situated underground, the only evidence of its existence is a nice dry pool deck.

While we're glad that we were able to resolve the drainage issues that had marred this pool deck, it's unfortunate that the original landscapers didn't think about the long-term effects when designing the landscape.

At Yardmasters Landscapes, our aim is to make your yard both beautiful and functional, and for you to enjoy it for many years; that's why we make sure our work is done to the highest of standards and with no detail overlooked.

If you're interested in reading more about drainage, take a look at the innovative methods used on the Bald Eagle Lake project (here and here), or how we regraded and rebuilt a flooded, sunken patio.