If
you have ever glanced beyond your backyard window after a heavy rain and
thought, "Wow, that has turned into a pond," then you are not the
only one. Drainage problems are one of those issues that Landscaping in Aberdeen, MD can suffer without even realizing it. One moment your backyard is
beautiful; the next you are frustrated as water accumulates in places you never
imagined. We have witnessed this scenario over and over - yards that were fine
after the spring suddenly turned into a problem after a summer storm, or low
spots in the yard that became lakes after a heavy rain.
Besides
the fact that it looks terrible, pooling water can ruin the grass, flower beds,
and if you wait too long without drainage, it even can damage the foundation of
your home. Luckily though, a few effective ways which at times are even simple
can greatly improve the situation. From the experience of working with
different homeowners in Aberdeen, here is what we want to share with you and
hopefully, you will be able to find a solution for your yard problem.
Reasons Why
Baltimori Area Yards Are Flooding
The Reality of The Land and Ground Levels
Clay
content of the soil is the major contributor to the formation of puddles in
backyards of the Baltimore area. Many Aberdeen residents\' gardens have this
type of soil, and therefore, the water is not absorbed as quickly as in the
case of sandy soils. The combination of this with low lying areas or uneven
grading results in the standing water issue.
Water
can accumulate even on gentle slope areas since the flow follows the path of
least resistance and a depressive area can be turned into a water container.
There have been places where the difference in slope is almost unnoticeable but
when a heavy rainfall occurs the place seems like a small lake.
Weather Patterns and Rainfall
Weather
around Baltimore can be quite challenging for yards. Storms in spring and
summer usually arrive very fast and heavy, delivering even more water than a
backyard with clay soil can handle at one time. In addition, fall season with
its fallen leaves tends to cause clogs of the drainage areas. Due to prolonged
exposure to these conditions, lawn and gardens create wet spots that seem like
appearing out of nowhere.
After
the very rainy month of July, one of the families that we worked with, realized
that water was pooling near their patio, and it was no longer just a small
nuisance, quite the opposite as their lawn, flower beds, and walkway were also
affected by the situation.
Landscaping Mistakes Homeowners Often Make
Here
are a few things that we notice homeowners most often do which can help make
the drainage problem worse even if unintentionally:
1.
Excessive non-permeable surface in the yard: Patios, decks, driveways, and
other areas that do not let water through block its absorption.
2.
Incorrectly placed gutters/downspouts: If your downspouts are emptying water
right beside the house or into a low spot, flooding may be the result
3.
Un-graded flower beds: Flower beds sloping to the house or a low spot can be
water traps.
Identifying
these patterns allows you to take a step toward the solution of the problem -
perhaps you will not have to execute a big project but just be aware of the
situation.
Our Solution: A
Step-by-Step Friendly Fix
When
we first visited this family’s home in Aberdeen, we agreed that the small pond
near their patio had to be fixed—but at the same time, we did not want the
family to experience the loss of their yard with our solution. These are the
steps that we took:
Going Slow: Understanding the Yard Before Making
any Changes
One
of the most important aspects of the work is observation. We paid attention to
how water flows in this particular yard during a couple of rain showers before
we started the project. Sometimes just watching the waterlocating you provides
more information than any blueprint or measurement. For this house, in fact, a
tiny dip by the patio was the main source of standing water and there was
additional problem due to inadequate water discharge to the ground from the
roof.
Small-Scale, Low-Impact Ones that Work Well and
are Easy to Implement
Some
of the solutions that produced a remarkable change are:
1.
Installing swales and French drains: A
safe way to reroute water is to install small swales or French drains. Neither
solution is disruptive, and they don’t lead to open ditches in your yard. At
first, it might seem hard to grasp the notion of a French drain, but the
concept is that the trench a hollow filled with gravel channels water to the
desired location.
2.
Strategic grading: Short of turning your
whole lawn over, raising the outlines of the low points and allowing the water
to flow naturally can result in no standing water.
3.
Plants native to the area and that get
their fills of water: These water-soaking plants are not only a good companion
to the landscape but they also help with drainage.
Reflecting
back on this project gave us a few valuable insights. Most significantly, we
learned that low-cost fixes had the potential to substantially alter the
end-result. The homeowners had anticipated needing to tear it all down, but
just by altering the flow of water and the holding areas, the backyard was
significantly dried up after a collection of heavy rains.
Another
very strong point being brought home was planning the monitoring work. Hence, a
drainage solution cannot be regarded as a "put it and leave it"
project - however, following heavy rains monitoring of the yard and the problem
areas, along with timely intervention, facilitates smooth functioning of the
system.
Additional
Suggestions for a Consistent Happy and Dry Yard
From
our very working experience in Aberdeen, here are some handy tips:
1.
Your maintenance schedule must fit the
seasons: Clear your gutters regularly and after torrential rains, be sure to
inspect the yard for new low spots. Erosion, if ignored, can lead to yet
different problems.
2.
Select the right plants: It is much
easier to maintain a lawn and flowering area if the chosen plants can withstand
the wet conditions.
3.
Make decisions before development plans:
Patios, decks, and walkways must not only fit the look but also the natural
water flow of the yard.
There
is no need to change drastically, it is enough to be creative in redirecting
downspouts or adjusting the patio edge slightly and you will be already
preventing risks of major works in the future.
What is Next?
Small Fixes Can Make a Big Difference
The
main lesson we have learned from working with our neighbors in Aberdeen is that
drainage problems can be addressed and the solution is often simpler than one
anticipates. Paying attention to the yard, becoming familiar with its
particularities, and making considered changes will save you a lot of trouble
with having water as a continual problem.
The
thing that we keep telling homeowners: it is much less stressful to do
proactive care rather than reactive fixes. If you change how water moves after
it rains, deal with problem areas sooner rather than later, you will enjoy
savings in terms of both time and money and you will keep your backyard looking
good all year round.
Sharing The
Stories of Our Aberdeen Neighbors
The
spirit of help that neighbors often exhibit to one another is simply amazing to
us. There have been times that we observed a genuine interaction among people
during which they shared advice and knowledge about drainage and landscaping
issues. What one neighbor is suggesting right now as a rain garden, and another
one is recommending different native plants for the waterlogged area and,
before we know it, the whole block is enjoying beautiful yards with not a lot
of pooling. It is a demonstration that resolving the problem is not limited
just to the yards — it is really about the community and connecting with each
other.
Drainage
issues in Aberdeen, MD may be quite intimidating initially, but a well-planned
observation, practical solutions, together with some local expertise will make
you capable of maintaining a dry, healthy backyard that is always ready to
serve as a stage for events and casual evenings alike.
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