Drainage and Erosion Issues

Drainage issues and erosion concerns are an important part of any landscape plan and the first
items reviewed as designers begin work on a project. Walls built for slope
control using stone or other materials are one design feature used to improve
drainage and erosion problems while providing an attractive solution to an
uneven site. Additionally, buried downspouts, underground piping and French
drains are all concealed ways of correcting drainage problems. Passive measures
such as diversion ditches and gentle slopes also can work to drain low spots or
poorly draining soil to other areas. The use of deep-root plant material and
turf are helpful when planning the correct drainage for a property. Precipitation can quickly damage a
carefully planned landscape and put your home and structures at risk if the
proper drainage controls are not put in place.

 Lake Bluff, IL  Schmechtig Landscapes

When discussing slope control, there are various materials and features
that can be used to build walls to attractively correct the problem. When
choosing materials, the home’s style as well as color and material are used to
determine what would blend well. Although the walls are a feature that are
necessary to control the slope, they should not be the focus of the landscape.
The key is to build these areas wide and deep enough
to control drainage and use as planting beds, which further helps to control
precipitation around homes this size. Not only are we draining the
precipitation from the landscape, but all that falls on the physical structure,
the larger the home, the more water that needs to be diverted. Drainage,
erosion and slope control are only challenges, not deterrents, that need to be
addressed and incorporated in your homes landscape plan.