Land drainage for your garden

Whether you’ve bought an old house with dodgy electric wiring or are building a brand new one, you’ll probably need the property rewired – find out more here.

There are many different
land drainage options

The term itself may sound a bit drastic, but the process is actually quite simple and could save your plants from disease and rotting. If left unattended, excess water could also cause some serious problems with the foundation of your house. ‘Land drainage’ conjures up images of industrial machines used on farmland; however a few simple trenches are often all that is required. There are a few different options you can try; a professional will make sure the job’s done correctly.

Channel drains

These drains are thin and long, this structure means they are best situated at patio edges or between main features (for example, a pond and the house). Channel drains can be connected to an underground pipe system and these are covered with grates to ensure that they remain blockage free. These types of drains are ideal if you are lucky enough to own a pool because they are perfect for collecting overflow.

Deck drains

If your garden is beautifully landscaped and the thought of a drain entrenched amongst your flower beds fills you with dread, this could be the drain for you! They are small and built into the bottom of sloped surfaces, usually at the bottom of a deck or patio, excess water is caught and filtered through them. You can add a decorative cover if you want to it, stones add a natural element, or you could buy a metal or brass cover.

French drains

These are best if your main aim is to prevent your lawn getting saturated with water. Made up of perforated drainpipes that are then covered with grass or rock or whatever takes your fancy and blend in nicely with the surrounding environment. The water goes into the drain and is then dispersed more evenly around your garden.

Catch drains

You can add a downspout to your roof gutter system, which takes water from the gutters to the drainage system. This is usually connected to a catch basin which is made from concrete or plastic and tied into larger, underground systems. This is a great drain if you are concerned about excess water building up around the foundation of your home and causing damage.

Slope drains

These are easy enough to install, the process simply involves digging a slope around the edge of your garden, and this will naturally drain your garden. These could be paved to fit in with the aesthetics of your garden.

Cost for drains: contact a land drainage expert or landscaper gardener for a quote.

Dry well

If your problem is a bit too severe for the likes of a simple drain, you could invest in a dry well (sometimes referred to as a soakaway). It is an underground structure that collects and then disposes of unwanted water that your garden collects by dispersing it into the ground. This process is done over days, rather than a short period of time which would result in flooding. You could install perforated tubes which would assist the dry well in evenly spreading the excess water around your garden.

Cost: £50- £150

Sump pump

The most expensive and arguably most effective method of ridding your garden of excess water, a sump pump actually pumps water into a desirable location, such as an overflow container.

Cost: £100 - £200