Installing a French drain can help avoid water damage and maintain the beauty of your garden with smart landscaping ideas. A French drain is a certain type of drainage system that can assist you both in water damage prevention and in smart landscape that is still garden-friendly. The French drain method is the main way that a farmer, named French Henry from England, in the 19th century, initiated.
The French drainage system includes a trench filled with gravel, holding a pipe with holes to facilitate water drainage. It also has a filtration fabric around which means that only water is allowed to pass through the drain while the soil is being conserved.
French drains are very good in preventing the overflow of water in the garden area. The first part of the article talks about the methodology of French drain installation and also the signs that inform you when it is necessary to get the expert help to carry out work in your garden without water damage.
Things you need to install a French drain:
- Safety gear including gloves, glasses, and boots
- Perforated pipe
- Gravel
- Fabric for landscape and filtration
- Pipe connector and end caps
- Excavation tools (tape measure, tamper, level, Wheelbarrow, tape measure, etc.)
Steps To Install a French Drain:
You must follow the following steps to install a French drain in your garden.
Select the drain path and mark that area
First, you need to assess the problematic area of your garden, where you face maximum water clogging. Then, you need to select the drain path that will help the water flow freely. For this, you can choose a slopy area to facilitate quick drainage.
Mark this area with stakes and string so, you can easily do excavation work there.
Excavation Of the Trench
After you have marked the place for setting up the French drain, you have to remove the grasses and other things which can obstruct the place. Then, you can dig the trench along the marked line using a shovel. The trench should be made of the depth and width of 24 and 18 inches respectively. Also, keep in mind that you have to keep the right slope all over the trench to make sure that the water will flow easily and quickly.
Lay the Landscape Fabric
The primary function of the landscape fabric is to prevent the soil from clogging the drainage pipe. It also serves as a base for the French drainage system. So, you can lay the landscape fabric to the trench after finishing the excavation work.
Layer The Trench with Gravel or Stones
Add a layer of stones to the landscape fabric. The stones should cover 2-3 inches of the depth of the trench. The layer of stones holds the perforated pipe. So, it should `be strong enough to serve as a base for drainage pipe.
Place The Perforated drainage pipe
Now, you can place the perforated drainage pipe on the layer of gravel by keeping the holes facing downwards. The pipe includes multiple sections that need to be fixed using the fittings provided with the pipe. You should fix the connectors properly to ensure proper water drainage.
Cover the perforated pipe with gravel
Add another layer of gravel to the perforated pipe to cover it entirely. The gravel should evenly cover the pipe and remain just below the adjacent ground level.
Cover the drainage with the landscape fabric
Fold the remaining fabric properly on the layer of gravel to prevent the water from seeping into the drainage pipe.
Backfilling and Restoring Your Garden
Now, you can backfill the trench with soil. Use a tamper to make the soil compact. This will provide strength to the drainage system. Finally, you can add new grass to complete the procedure. French drains help water flow freely without compromising the beauty of your garden.
Testing
You can take a simple test by running water through the drainage pipe to check if the water flows properly to the desired discharge point or not.
Conclusion:
Installing a French Drain probably can do a lot to fix the water-logging problem in your garden. Though, it is advisable to check the drain frequently to make sure that no part of the soil has gotten into the pipe. If you don’t have the skills to make an installation, you can ask a landscaping pro to do it and also they can check it for you.
