Drainage is a broad subject. There are many different types of drainage problems you can have in your landscape or foundation.
Let begin with why your drainage is so important.
Prevents Flooding: Excess water can lead to flooding, causing damage to property, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Proper drainage systems help to divert water away from vulnerable areas.
Protects Public Health: Standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects. Effective drainage can help to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses.
Maintains Soil Health: Poor drainage can lead to waterlogging, which can suffocate plants and prevent them from absorbing nutrients. Well-drained soil is essential for healthy plant growth.
Enhances Property Value: Properties with good drainage are generally more desirable and can command higher prices.
Improves Safety: Poor drainage can create slippery surfaces, increasing the risk of accidents. Effective drainage can help to improve safety on roads, walkways, and other public areas.
What we usually see here in the Cumming GA area is one of 2 things:
1. The lot is very flat or the back yard is very flat and the grade was left so that water drains so slow that the water cannot get out of the back yard fast enough to eliminate problems. Problems such as standing water, fungus in the lawn or lawn dies and leaves black/green algae spots, mosquito problems, compacted soil, the list could go on.
2. The grade or slope is steep and there ends up being erosion issues, no place to create a landscape plan, or an economical landscape plan anyway. With this issue there is usually wash outs on the side yards where the grade has been fixed for water to run off.
3. Every now and then we will see a case where the house at the bottom of the hill gets flooded from all the houses up the hill and needs sump pumps, dry creek beds and a large expensive solution to fix the drainage problem.
When purchasing a house especially a new house I would recommend that the drainage be carefully assessed, possibly by a professional if you think there could be a potential problem. Once you purchase the house the builder will tell you if the water does not stand for more than 2 days then it is not a problem, and they will tell you if you are at the bottom of the hill that you are in a water easement and you will be stuck with a huge river on your property during heavy rains. Or the opposite.
It is good to have or to see that the grade is sloped away from the house, that there are swells if needed to carry water to the road or to a natural area. There are plants and mulch that can be chosen to help with erosion and to help with drainage issues as well. If there is a complex drainage system installed on the property it is important that you make sure that it works properly. These repairs can be costly. Unless you can fins the person who installed it is sometimes easier to replace than to repair if you don’t know
what is underground. Ig the proper material isn’t used its better to repair or replace with the best material o not to have any other issues in the future.
We at Cumming Lawn Service are here to help with all your landscape needs. Please give us a call.