5 Ways to Stop Runoff From Ruining Your Lawn

5 Ways to Stop Runoff From Ruining Your Lawn

May 1, 2012 12:00 PM

Runoff frustrates many homeowners, while the dirt, wood chips, grass clippings, and debris it scours from the yard can pollute public waters. So we've got two goals here: Divert the water to stop the damage to your property, and slow it down enough so that it percolates into the soil, rather than racing over it.

All of the following approaches will work well, depending on the situation.

BUILD A BERM, a small hill covered with grass or other plants that will divert runoff around what you want to protect. You'll need to think about where the diverted water will flow, then consider what to plant. Grass is easy, until it's time to mow it. A variety of other plantings might be easier to maintain and can help the berm blend into the landscape. The best brief guide I've seen is "Building Soil Berms," available online from the University of Minnesota. If you're looking for a reasonably quick fix to protect plantings and structures, a berm may be the best option.

ROUTE THE WATER INTO A DRY WELL. As the name suggests, this is a hole in the ground that remains dry most of the time. However, when water is flowing, it can be routed to the well by a swale or roof downspout. Dry wells are particularly helpful in a spot where downspouts are flooding a large paved area or when you're coping with runoff from a large roof. Finally, you can dig a dry well in any low area where a big puddle tends to form.

GRADE BROAD SURFACES to direct runoff away from houses, sheds, barns, and patios. In most cases this requires a professional excavator or expensive rental equipment. But it's almost always an essential step for correcting a flooded basement or crawlspace.

PopularMechanics.com RSS