If you suffer from flooding in your landscape or your basement, the problem might lie within your landscape design.
Late summer and early fall mean storms that quickly appear, unleash torrential rain, and leave you with a flooded yard. If you suffer from flooding in your landscape or your basement, the problem might lie within your landscape design. Here are some of our best tips for preventing basement flooding with proper landscape design.
Proper Grading
Landscape grading is critical for proper yard drainage. Landscape grades should always run away from your home instead of towards it to prevent basement flooding. To fix landscape grading, work with a professional to evaluate what needs to be changed. If you need a more complex solution for your grading issues, you could install a French drain or dry creek in your yard to take care of excess water when it appears.
Take a Look at Your Yard
The next time heavy rains fall in your yard, take a walk outside (with an umbrella!) and look where the water flows. This inspection is a quick way to determine what is causing the flooding in your yard. If the sump pump is running too close to your home or constantly running without much difference, that is a likely culprit for your basement flooding problem. Extending your sump pump drain lines can help your yard to drain properly and stop basement flooding completely.
Leave a Gap
Is there a gap between the mulch in your yard and your siding? If there isn’t at least a 6-inch gap, the moisture from the mulch might be wicking up your siding and causing rot and excess moisture accumulation. Mulch can directly touch houses made of brick or concrete, but never siding.
Point Your Downspouts Away
The downspouts for your home’s gutters should always lead away from your home and point away from your home. If possible, they should go at least 20 feet away from your house. Gutters should be regularly cleared to prevent flooding and water damage. Many minor cases of basement flooding can be fixed by pointing downspouts in the right direction.
Skilled Landscape Design from Lehnhoff’s Landscaping
Whether you need skilled landscape design, outdoor lighting, dumpster rental, drainage solutions, or just about anything outside of your property taken care of, call the professionals at Lehnhoff’s Landscaping. We pride ourselves on our fantastic customer service, quality work, and personal touches. We can handle both small and large jobs and will be honored to work on your property. To get a quote and learn more about our services, contact us online or give us a call at (443) 921-5789. For pictures of our work and more lawn and home tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Google+.