Landscape Drainage

If pooling water is a problem with your lawns or landscape we can help!

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Landscape Drainage Problems and Solutions
If your property has drainage problems we can help!

One of the keys to keeping your landscaping (and property) in good shape is ensuring you have proper drainage in place.  Drainage issues can cause premature erosion, property damage, damage to buildings and foundations, and they can be very expensive to repair.  Depending on what your drainage issues are there could be a number of ways to address the problem and solve it once and for all.

What Type Of Drainage Problem Do You Have?

  • Is there water pooling up on your property?
  • Does your property have soil erosion due to heavy rain?
  • Is your grass or landscape plants struggling?
  • Do you have soft spots in your lawns or landscape beds?
  • Do you have standing water around your foundation?
  • Is your driveway or parking area a wet mess when it rains?

Without proper drainage in place your landscaping and lawn areas can be prone to flooding, it can drown out your expensive plants, erode away expensive hardscaping, and even cause damage to your structures and their foundations.

GroundSmith is a landscaping contractor based out of Lewis Center, Ohio and serving Delaware County and the surrounding area.   We specialize in addressing drainage problems by installing landscape drainage systems.  These can include drainage swales, french drains, water tolerable landscaping, and more.  We offer real solutions for properties with a drainage or standing water problem. 

Many of our clients properties suffer from poor drainage or have drainage systems that just weren’t implemented correctly from the start which has led to significant erosion problems, water pooling, soft spots, and flooding in their lawns, gardens and landscapes.  We can help solve these problems by developing a solid plan for your property.

What Is A Drainage Swale?

A drainage swale is a shallow channel or depression that is designed to carry and manage stormwater runoff. It is typically found in landscaped areas, such as along the side of a road or where a culvert outflow is located.  Swales are used to intercept and convey excess water from storms or other sources to a drainage outlet, such as a storm drain or a natural waterway.

Drainage swales are often used as an alternative to traditional stormwater management systems, such as underground pipes, because they can be more visually appealing and have a variety of additional benefits, such as providing habitat for wildlife and helping to reduce erosion. Drainage swales are typically lined with river rock or with vegetation, such as grasses or native plants, which helps to filter pollutants and sediment from the water as it flows through the channel.

Example of a landscaped drainage swale

Example of a landscaped drainage swale

What Is A French Drain?

A French drain is a type of drain that is used to remove excess water from an area. It is typically made up of a trench that is filled with gravel or rock and a pipe that is placed at the bottom of the trench. The pipe is usually perforated with holes, allowing water to flow through it and into the ground. French drains are often used to prevent water from pooling or standing in a particular area, such as a section of your landscaping or yard. They can also be used to redirect water away from foundations and other structures to prevent damage.

French drains are commonly used in a variety of settings to prevent water from pooling or standing in a particular area. They are often used in residential settings to prevent basement or crawl space flooding, and to protect foundations from water damage. French drains can also be used in landscaping to divert water away from areas where it might cause erosion or pooling. They can also be used in commercial and industrial settings to prevent water from accumulating in parking lots, roads, and other paved areas.

Drainage System Installation and Repair

  • Drainage system design
  • Drainage system installation
  • Underground drainage and piping
  • Drainage swale installation
  • French drain installations
  • Drainage system repairs
  • Drain box and catch basin installation
  • Downspout drainage systems
  • Stream and creek beds for channeling water
  • Drainage problem correction

Does Your Property Have Water Drainage Problems?

Drainage issues should be addressed during the landscape design process and before your actual landscape is installed.  Because every property we work on is different a good landscape designer will take the time to understand how water may flow from your property, what type of soil conditions you have, and they will also know and understand the rainfall in your area and/or how high the static water table might be.  Knowing all of these factors can help us plan out an effective drainage solution for your specific property.

It’s often during sustained and heavy rainfall when a drainage problem will surface.  After a few days of rain, a property with poor drainage will become obvious.  You’ll visibly see water pooling in low spots, your lawn or gardens will be muddy, you may see erosion taking place, and a host of other problems.  If the water table (sub-surface water) is high in your area, then rainfall only makes the problem that much worse.

Drainage Problems We Solve

High Water Tables

A high water table can pose a challenge for any landscape. The water table is water that lies close to the soil surface.  It can vary depending on where you are located.  If you have a high water table then the low lying areas of your landscape can often have pooling water.  Often the best solution for a high water table is to plant appropriate trees, shrubs, and other plants that are capable of handling these wet, boggy, conditions.  These are often plantings that natively grow in riparian areas.

Another option to solve a high water table drainage problem is to raise the lawn areas or planting and garden bed areas up.  You can do this by mounding up areas with additional soil and appropriate plantings to keep it held together or you can even used raised garden beds.

Excess Water Pooling On The Surface

If your property has clay-based soil then you may have problems with surface water pooling up.  Clay is a very dense material and doesn’t allow for good drainage.  Surface water issues can often be solved by properly grading the property away from the home and into a swale or french drain that can channel the water away from your property and into an existing storm drain or drainage ditch of some type.

One of the most popular and effective drainage systems to install for a surface water problem is the French drain.  This is a time-tested drainage solution that gathers water and channels it to a place underground (usually a trench filled with gravel and perforated pipe) where the water can take its time percolating down through the soil.

More Ideas For Solving Your Drainage Problems

Careful Construction Practices – Often drainage problems surface after extensive construction or site-work has been completed on a property.  Activities such as removing and placing fill, property grading, and digging of foundations or footings can alter the drainage on a property.  When construction occurs on your property care must be taken to avoid compaction of the soil and also to make sure that your property is graded to channel water away from low-lying areas and your home or buildings foundation.

Regulate Your Irrigation System – Many irrigation systems are setup to deliver water to a lawn, garden, or landscape over a set period of time rather than on the needs of those specific plants.  It’s a good idea to set your irrigation to meet the needs of your specific landscape rather than set it on a timed schedule.  For example, if you’re irrigation system runs for an hour in the evening, but the plantings are sufficiently watered within 15 minutes, that extra 45 minutes of watering doesn’t make much sense and likely contributes to the poor drainage issues.

Check For Broken Plumbing Or Sewer Lines – In some cases, poor drainage, or pooling, standing water can be the symptoms of a broken, clogged, or corroded sewer or drain line.  If your drainage issues are accompanied by a foul sewage smell, then this could be part of your problem. We also see pooling water caused by broken municipal water pipes or sprinkler pipes.  The broken piping causes the excess water to pool near the surface.

Adapt Plantings To Site Conditions – If your property is continually suffering from drainage problems due to a high water table then it’s a good idea to make sure your plantings are “drinkers” you want to carefully select plants, trees, and shrubs that require lots of water or that thrive in excess moisture.

If you’d like to schedule a consultation to discuss your drainage system or to correct drainage issues you might be experiencing with your property we’d be happy to meet with you.  Please call 614-504-0565 or fill out our online form and we’ll get right back to you.

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I have been a GroundSmith customer for many years. I used Groundship for my homes landscaping needs. GroundSmith people do a great job on the cutting the grass, and annual spring clean of all of the beds. The show up on time and consistently leave my home better off than they arrive.

John O'Brien March 3, 2025
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Scott’s team is great! His crew has been mowing and treating our lawn for the last 3 years. They have also done a few landscaping projects for us as well. Last summer we installed a pool. Because of the construction our front, side and back yards were torn up. After construction was completed they got our yard looking back to normal in such a short time and their landscaping plan around the pool was great. They do great quality work and are very dependable. Our grass and landscaping look fantastic due to their services. They are truly full service. Great customer service and are always attentive to the customer’s needs.

Viren Patel February 24, 2025
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We've been using GroundSmith for a couple of years and they have done an awesome job. Our property has been transformed from what it was just a few years ago. Another great thing is they take care of so many different aspects for us (landscaping, irrigation, lighting, lawncare, etc.). Everyone on their team is fantastic -- highly recommended!

Stuart Crane February 21, 2025
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Love the GroundSmith team. Super responsive and they have done a great job on my yard and landscaping for years. This year they came through big time on snow removal and highly recommended the organization for all of your landscape needs.

Carl Howard February 21, 2025
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Great service with great employees

Roger Simmons February 21, 2025
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They do a fine job with my lawn weed control.

Richard Taylor February 20, 2025
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Responsive, customized lawn care. Breadth of expertise. Competitive pricing. Made it right any time I was unhappy. Would highly recommend.

B.J. Singhurst February 20, 2025
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Are you getting the level of professional service that you would expect from you landscaping services? If not, look no further than GroundSmith. Every type of service we have received (new landscaping, mowing, cleanups, landscape lighting, landscape design) have been top notch. We have tried others for services and keep coming back to GroundSmith simply because of the people. Thank you Scott!

Brian Reese April 14, 2024

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