Move away from your poor drainage problem

Poor drainage is the ultimate and leading cause of death for our beautiful garden plants. Adding up organic matter would enhance poor drainage problem. If you have tried that, though, and your land clearing site still remains watery for hours after a short, heavy rain, then further action is now required. Shallow trenching and drainage pipe could solve the problem. Please follow the below given instruction for further drainage solution.

Instructions

* Look for a spot below the level of your garden where the water could drain away safely. A storm drain, dry well or even drainage ditch is an perfect choice.

* Calculate the distance from the lowest point in the trouble site to your drainage area. Then purchase enough perforated 4-inch (10-cm)- diameter drainage pipe to cover that particular distance.

* Dig a trench 18 inches (45 cm) deep and 12 inches (30 cm) wide, sloping below among the two points. Try for a drop of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) for each 10 feet (3 m) of ground.

* Test the slope by driving a glide into the soil at every end of the trench. Run a string among the two glides, and use a spirit level to calculate the drop among them.

* When the slope is at the correct angle, line the trench with about 3 inches (7.5 cm) of gravel or crushed stone.

* Lay the pipe on the stone (see B), and ensure that any joints are completely fastened tightly.

* Cover the pipe with agricultural fabric to defend soil from clogging the perforations (tuck the cloth under the pipe towards the uphill opening).

* Add another 6 more inches (15 cm) of stone over the drainage pipe.

* Finally replace the soil in the trench.

Tips & Warnings

* If your drainage problem is very serious, you might really need expert to help. Before you try any do-it-yourself steps, ask a land clearing contractor.
* On a large residential or commerical site, consider just going with the flow. Many beautiful plants, including cardinal flower, Japanese iris and astilbe, thrive in moist soil.
* Another option to expensive, time consuming drainage correction is to grow your plants in any well defined containers.