Standing Water Prevention

Standing water is an issue a lot of homeowners face. It also has the potential to cause many, many more problems. Some of these issues may include the creation of a mosquito breeding ground or possible damage to the home foundation. It even has the potential to create an environment for dangerous bacteria that will harm humans and pets alike.

Standing water is extremely harmful to lawns as well—grass can’t thrive when it’s underwater for long periods of time. Eventually, long-term damage will affect the root structure of the turf. There is also the issue of grass-killing disease and mold that is often the result of a standing water issue.

Prevention Methods

The bottom line is this: standing water in your lawn can be a serious problem that needs to be addressed quickly before long-term damage ensues. Here are several ways to handle and even prevent a standing water issue.

Catch Basin

A catch basin is a man-made structure that lays below ground level usually built out of plastic, brick or concrete block. The idea of a catch basin is to redirect standing water to whatever system of piping, ditches or drainage portals are nearby. Another function of a catch basin is to catch debris, usually via some sort of grate, so that clogs and other blockages occur further down the line. Catch basins used for home applications are typically 1-by-1-feet.

Drainage Ditch

A drainage ditch, most commonly used to divert water into certain areas of your landscape, is another option to rid your yard of standing water. When building a drainage ditch, be sure to use gravel or stone of some sort to allow for water to easily flow through the stones while still diverting most of the water. A few items to note about drainage ditches is that they must be kept cleared of leaves, branches and other debris or they create another standing water issue. While they are indeed effective, drainage ditches aren’t always allowed in many neighborhoods with HOA rules.

French Drain

A French drain is a trench filled with gravel or stone that lays below the rest of the yard so that standing water filters through it. If your standing water issue is located in a garden or around the foundation of your home, a French drain might be a good choice because it is one of the more attractive drainage options.

Stones

Beneficial to both the look and the function of a drainage ditch or french drain, the use of natural stone makes a great addition. Here at Carolina Fresh Farms, we carry a variety of natural stones, like our #57 Stone or river rock, perfect for filling your drainage ditch or French drain. Allow us to help you decide which type of drain and stone filling is right for your standing water issue by stopping into one of our seven locations or calling to speak with one of our team members.

These are some of the tried and true methods many homeowners use to assist with the many serious issues standing water can cause. Carolina Fresh Farms has a staff of professionals that are here to help with any lawn or landscape project you are working on. Visit one of our stores or contact us on our website for more information.