A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs New to Forum

Good Morning to all,

It has been rainy a few days this week around the Fort Worth - Mid-Cities area.

I am battling a drainage problem. I purchased the home around 1 1/2 years ago with lovely landscaping of boxwoods, holly, red tip photina, crape myrtles and english ivy. I have three azalea bushes and two hydrangeas (still learning about those plants).

I need help!

My problem is that my drainage area has become increasingly worse. To compound even more is that my yard is the lowest in all of the neighborhood which gives the abundant overflow from their yards to mine when it rains. Needless to say that my yard on the east side has alot of standing water with pockets of standing water in the lower lying areas. I even lost my hedges next to the east side of my house due to this last snow that we had as they were literally pulled up out of the bed.

The cost of a french drain with sump pump is in the cost of $5000 of which is just a little out of my budget.

I plan on adding top soil in 1/4 inch increments to build up my yard. I want to add a sloped raised bed in the planting bed next to my home as I need to prevent the water from standing and the bed to be mush. I would lay down landscaping sheeting to give support.

My thoughts are to plant a "bog" garden on the east side as the water stands in the beds. I have found two plants one that is in the rose family which is aruncus dioicus which grows to 6' tall with a stately look. Also acanthus is a choice but they require full sun.

Any ideas? Anyone know of a good, sensible and inexpensive way for a drainage remedy?

Hi and welcome

My neighbor has a bog/run off problem as well. He dug a one foot trench all around the back side and sides of his property to collect the water, then planted trees and shrubs in front to hide the view of the trenches.

Adding top soil a little at a time might not work, the water will wash away the top soil before it can get a chance to build up. If a trench isn't possible, could you build a 'berm' all around?

A bog garden would work as well , do you have clay compacted soil?

Here's a few links you might like to read. Hope they help.

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/cgi-bin/ubb/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/66/1726.html


//www.agardenersforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/10

Hi

Thanks for the quick response. I do not have alot of clay in the mixture. I have rich black soil that might have less than 1% of clay in the mix.

A trench has been suggested as well as a concrete gutter built in the ground to run to the area behind my trees to flow off into the street.

Today, I am getting ready to lose 8 pine trees as they are encroaching on power lines and I have been informed that no trees per regulation for power companies, that the trees can overtower the power lines.

My, my.... my yard did look beautiful last year but the rains have taken their toll.

Sorry about the trees as well. You could plant some pretty flowering shrubs in there place though

It would be easier to dig a trench put in drain tile to get rid of the water but pricey as well. It's so maddening to have to spend good money on something that you don't get to see.

Tamara,

You sound quite knowledgable on this topic. Do you live locally in Fort Worth Texas area?

I like the idea of a grated berm with river rock as it would asthetically pleasing with river rocks, flowers on each side with grasses in the river rock.

I need help desperately!

Krissi

Oh my ...I'm all the way up in North Eastern Canada...a little province called New Brunswick~the land of cold and snow. I just love gardening and keep adding to my brain when I can .

It seems no matter where one lives...gardening troubles are all the same.

The berm would look nicer so much nicer than the trenches you can use anything at all for the center of the berm, and add the nicer rock on top...sometimes you can get old broken concrete for free from demolitions.

Oh by the way...you asked about posting a 'wavy'. If you click on 'full reply screen' you'll see graemlin characters. Just copy the codes exactly as they print. They are easy to memorize, once you remember them you can use the characters without switching screens.

A is : wavy : you need to post it all together with no spaces for it to work.