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Site Grading - Solutions to the Problem of Poor Drainage

Poor drainage can lead to property damage and unusable land. These resources will show drainage solutions to drain the water away; for instance, by using French drains. In some cases, site grading will be involved in drainage solutions.
Installing French Drains to Correct Excessive Wetness
Is the space you've allotted for gardening overly saturated with water? Worse yet, is excessive moisture threatening the integrity of your house foundation? You need to improve yard drainage. One of the options available to you is installing a French drain. Here's how.
How Much Slope is Needed in Land Grading Near Foundations?
Will you be doing any site grading (slope adjusting) near house foundations to correct drainage issues? To do such site grading properly, you must first know how much of a slope you need to have away from the house foundation. This resource explains how to find the slope.
Attractive Drainage Solutions: Dry Creek Beds
Are you losing soil on a hillside to erosion? If so, consider installing a dry creek bed. This drainage solution will allow you to control how water drains on a hillside, funneling it where you want it to go. This tutorial tells you how, step by step.
FLEX-Drain
FLEX-DrainĀ® is an example of a product used to extend downspouts. It takes the downspout water and channels it away from your house. Its flexible nature comes in handy when you need to work around foundation plantings, for instance.
Solutions to Drainage Problems: Installing Dry Creek Beds
Building dry creek beds. Roll out weed cloth, lay out the rock so as to make it look natural, and plant the sides with interesting aquatic plants. Building a dry creek bed is a way to turn a negative into a positive. A drainage problem on a slope becomes an attractive component of your landscape design. Another option is to use an artificial source of water later to create a waterfall.
Solving drainage problems in turf, tree and landscaping plantings
"Solving drainage problems in turf, tree and landscape plantings is not a difficult task if you understand the underlying causes," states Chris R. Carlson of Kent State. Discover how soil grading can be used in the solution of drainage problems in this feature from "Grounds Maintenance." Drainage problems are often the result of inadequate soil grading.
How to Install Drainage Systems
This article from Grounds Maintenance Magazine on how to install drainage systems is written for professionals. But don't let that stop you from sneaking a peek! At least you'll learn enough of the basics of installing drainage systems to appreciate some of the problems involved -- perhaps problems to which your own is subject.
Grading Land - Site Grading Before Building Hardscape Paths
This article from the Do-It-Yourself network discusses building hardscape paths. But much of the work comes beforehand, as a slope exists on the intended site for the pathway. Site grading must take place first. Aesthetic considerations are also discussed, as the path is designed with the "European tradition of creating paths that offer an interesting journey" in mind.

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