Unfortunately, improper drainage in your Vance County, NC, and Pittsylvania County, VA, landscape can damage more than just the grass. When your entire landscape has the right elevations and the stormwater diverts to a better place, you won’t have to worry about debris flowing through the landscape or standing water around your house’s foundation.
Signs You Could Have a Drainage Problem
If you know something about your property drainage is not right but you are not sure what that is, here are some indicators that you need professional drainage help to correct existing issues.
Standing water around the foundation of your home and other structures can tell you there is a problem. This can happen when your gutters are full and the water spills off the roof and onto the ground below. If the general contractor or former landscape professionals didn’t install a drainage system that diverts the water from the house structure, you may be experiencing water in the wall studs, in the basement, and sitting in puddles around the base of your house. Left alone, the water can seep into the entire structure of your house to create an environment where mold and mildew thrive.
Standing puddles in the yard are another sign that you have a drainage problem. After a storm, you shouldn’t see shallow or deep puddles in the grass. Not only can these issues kill the lawn, but the standing water can attract mosquitoes and other insects.
Washed-away landscape beds can be another indicator that your property needs better drainage and water diversion. When you dread yet another rainstorm that can wash away your plants and mulch, it can be time to seek a professional solution.
Cracked walkways and driveways can be due to the water running continually over these surfaces. Hardscape spaces are not meant to experience ongoing run-off as it can seep beneath the driveway and walkway to crack the surface and erode the edges.
Drainage Solutions That Work
A landscape contractor has drainage solutions that can stop that damaging erosion and standing water. Once the water diverts to another area, you can rest easy knowing that you won’t have to dread the heavy rain anymore.
French drains can be an effective solution to the water that sits at the foundation of your house. A landscape crew could dig a trench around the perimeter of your house where they could lay gravel. A perforated pipe would be placed on the gravel before the rest of the trench is filled with more gravel. Then, the entire drain will be covered by landscaping and water will be diverted to another location.
Retaining walls can be remarkably effective at fixing the water that runs down a slope in the landscape, leaving behind debris in its trail. A landscape professional can design and build a gorgeous stone retaining wall with strategic drains to send the water elsewhere. This solution can also give you more outdoor living space for an expanded patio and other features.
When your home is close to the shoreline, shoreline stabilization strategies could be needed to stop the erosion of the shore. This can address the ongoing erosion to preserve your landscape from damage and ensure your beautiful landscape design is not ruined.