7 WAYS TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE IN THE GARDEN
Read on below for information on the best ways to deal with a landscape that does not allow water to escape naturally.
7 Ways to Improve Drainage
1. Amend your soil. For compacted soils, digging in organic material and breaking up any compacted areas improves soil texture and drainage. Well-amended soil essentially acts like a more effective sponge: The soil has an increased capacity to retain needed moisture, but gaps between soil particles allow excess water to drain through.Some people will recommend additives such as gypsum mineral salts to help break up heavy clay soils, but for most home gardens, adding a good dose of organic compost is equally effective at improving soil structure.2. Use permeable surfaces for pathways and patios. In areas with frequent heavy rainfall, the more areas of your garden that can absorb water and have it sink straight into the soil, the better. For walkways and patios, look for materials that allow water to percolate through, such as gravel, wood chips or widely spaced flagstone. You can also install a permeable driveway to drain stormwater.
In this Seattle garden, a pathway of impermeable cut stone pavers is interspersed with sections of path made up of permeable gravel to help increase water absorption.
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