How to Achieve Proper Lawn Drainage

For lawn lovers, August is the time to reap the rewards of your labour. Let's face it, by this time you've put in a lot of the hard work that is associated with achieving a lush and healthy lawn. You've irrigated, fertilized, kept up with a consistent mowing practices and you've given your lawn the water it needs. With all the work you've put in this year to have a healthy-looking lawn, you're landscape should be looking great.

With that being said, we experienced an uncharacteristically rainy early summer season. If the maintenance plan you've been following is not giving you the results you were hoping for, it may be due to some lawn drainage issues. If drainage issues present a challenge in your lawn, you'll want to take care of these issues with a little maintenance work. Below are some tips on spotting lawn drainage issues and performing the maintenance work needed to achieve proper lawn drainage.

How to Tell If You Have Drainage Issues

When it comes to identifying drainage issues, there can be obvious signs and more subtle signs. An obvious sign of a lawn drainage issue is noticeable pooling on the surface of your lawn. If you start to see water pooling in one place, it should be an immediate red flag.

A more subtle sign of a water drainage issue is migrating mulch. When water isn't draining properly, rain will run off the surface of your lawn in sheets. When this happens, the rain running off of your lawn can carry away piles of mulch or even wood chips. When mulch and wood chips end up in places they don't belong, this is a sign that there may be drainage issues present.

Why You Should Take Care of Drainage Issues

Aside from compromising the look and health of your lawn, drainage issues can affect the structure of your home. If the drainage issues are bad enough, they can contribute to cracks in the foundation of your home, flooded basements and even mildew build-up. When you notice lawn drainage issues, it's important to take care of the problem right away, before it can create any long-term and pricey damages to your lawn and home.

How to Handle Drainage Issues

Dig Trenches

If there are drainage issues present in your lawn, consider digging trenches to manipulate the flow of water. You can use these trenches to redirect the flow of water to other areas of your lawn that may need more water like flowerbeds or gardens. Additionally, you can use trenches to redirect the excess water towards the street so that it drains into the gutters.

Harvest Rain

A rainy season can expose lawn drainage issues that you didn't even know you had. When this is the case, you may want to start harvesting rain. The best way to harvest rain is to use rain barrels to collect precipitation. Simply position a rain barrel in an area of your home or property that experiences heavy downpours or dripping. An ideal spot for a rain barrel is often under an eavestrough. Once a rain barrel is set in place and collecting rainwater, the barrels can be used to feed your irrigation system, which just so happens to be a great way to conserve water!

Don't Overwater

When it comes to lawn drainage, sometimes it's your own watering routine that can be the cause of your frustration. While water is essential for a lush and healthy lawn, too much water can damage your lawn and even create drainage issues. Make sure you are watering your lawn properly and keeping an eye out for any signs of overwatering.

Contact Nutri-Lawn Burlington Irrigation

If you are experiencing drainage issues that are caused by overwatering, it may be time to install an inground sprinkler system. The customizable settings of an inground system allows your lawn to get the water it needs, exactly when it needs it. Weather sensor technology also tells your system when Mother Nature has taken care of the watering duties for you, so you are never overwatering your lawn. To learn more about inground irrigation systems and how they can help solve some of your drainage issues, Contact our experienced team today.