Drainage problems in your yard can cause all sorts of problems, both for your house and plants. So grab your umbrella on a rainy day and go out to your yard to check out the situation. It could save you from costly difficulties down the road.
- Patrick Murphy, host of GLT's Grow, noted that poor drainage can compromise the structural integrity of your home by allowing water in to soften the foundation.
- As for our plants, bad drainage can move the soil around, wash the soil away from roots or deposit too much water around plants.
- Standing water is a problem regarding mosquitoes and their eggs. With West Nile Virus and Zika a threat, it's best to nip that in the bud.
- Get gutters if you don't have them or keep clean the ones you have thwart drip lines from the roof. Some gutters just aren't big enough, so add new downspouts to control the water from the roof, adding drainage tiles to guide the water through your yard and not let it stand.
- Relandscaping can help, too. Earth covered with vegetation can slow down water and allow it to be soaked up. So a rain garden might be a good addition to your yard. Look for Arrowhead, Lily Turf and other bog plants and ornamental grasses to help out with your drainage problems.
