Month: April 2019

Drainage And Erosion Control In Bowie Md

Are you experiencing drainage and erosion control issues on your Bowie MD property? If you are, then know that you’re not alone. It’s an issue that a great many of the clients we work with ask for our help in dealing with. The good news is that there are a number of simple, relatively low-cost solutions available. In this article, we’ll cover the basics.

Before we do that, however, let’s talk about your overall landscaping goals. If you’ve got some major landscaping goals planned, it’s important to spell them out clearly and succinctly before you start any project designed to address the drainage and erosion control problems on your Bowie MD property so that your efforts in solving for those problems don’t interfere with the other work you have planned.

The best way to go about doing that is to create a Master Design Document. This document serves as an umbrella that gathers all of your landscaping desires in one place. Once assembled, this document allows you to take a high level view of your plans, prioritize your various initiatives and break larger projects down into more budget friendly components.

Of course, solving for those drainage and erosion control problems on your Bowie MD property will feature prominently in the document and be pretty high on the list. Let’s look at the three best options to solve for those issues:

  • Grasses And Low Shrubs – This is the cheapest and most obvious solution. Grasses and shrubs create a tightly woven network of roots that help hold your soil in place, keeping it from washing away when it rains.
  • A Diversion – Another very simple, cost-effective solution. Where the first one targeted erosion specifically, this one targets drainage. The simplest diversion is an open drainage ditch. Since water always seeks the lowest point, it will naturally gravitate to the drainage ditch and flow to wherever the ditch ends.
    You have lots of options on this front. If your property has a creek on it, you can simply divert the water into it and your problem is solved. If not, a drainage ditch that leads to a municipal water treatment system works just as well, as does a dry well or decorative pond.
  • Terraces – This is a more expensive, but also a more comprehensive solution that’s especially well-suited to steep slopes on your property. Creating terraces requires the building of retaining walls and the installation of proper drainage systems which usually take the form of French drains.
    While this is the more expensive approach, the results look spectacular and tie in well with a wide range of many other landscaping initiatives, making it a great all around choice.

Whatever your landscaping goals and ambitions, we stand ready to assist. Give our office a call today and let’s talk about the possibilities.

Posted on Author adminCategories Drainage, erosion control

Drainage And Erosion Control In Bethesda Md

Having drainage and erosion control problems on your Bethesda MD property? You’re not alone, and it’s understandable that you want to rush right out and fix them but that may not be the optimal solution. In this article we’ll explain why and reveal the three most effective strategies to deal with those kinds of issues.

First, let’s start by talking about the other landscaping you want to do, over and above dealing with the drainage and erosion control issues on your Bethesda MD property. If you haven’t already done so, the first, best thing you can do is to take the time to build a Master Landscape Design Document.

Don’t let the name fool you. That’s just a fancy way of saying a document that houses all of your landscaping ambitions.

It’s more than just a laundry list of things you want to do, however. By putting all your ideas down on paper and in one place, it gives you the chance to look at the big picture, prioritize your projects, break down the bigger ones into smaller component parts, and figure out the best way to implement your drainage and erosion control solutions on your Bethesda MD property.

Where solutions are concerned, there are three primary solutions to consider. They are:

Shrubs and Grasses

This is a delightfully low-cost solution aimed squarely at controlling erosion on your property. By planting plenty of grasses and shrubs, you create a dense network of roots that will lock your soil in place, even after a heavy rain.

A Diversion Channel

This is a little more expensive than planting shrubs and grasses, but not by much. Where the former is aimed at stopping erosion, this is aimed at solving your property’s drainage issues.

In its simplest form, a diversion channel is simply an open ditch. Since water naturally seeks the lowest point, it will flow into the ditch and carry the water anywhere you direct the ditch. You could dump it into a nearby stream, a dry well, or a decorative pond, at your preference.

Build Terraces

Terraces are an ideal solution for properties with steep slopes because they give you more usable yard space. You can create them by building retaining walls that create flat spaces that gradually step down from the upper elevations.

The great part about this approach is that although it’s more costly, a properly built retaining wall comes with a drainage system built in, so it neatly solves both problems at once.

Having read about the Big Three, do you have a firm handle on which approach is best for you and your property? If not, give our office a call and let’s talk further about the possibilities.

Posted on Author adminCategories Drainage, erosion control

My Gaithersburg, MD Basement Floods Every Time It Rains. How Can I Make My Yard Drain Better?

Does your Gaithersburg MD basement floods every time it rains? If so, you may wonder, “How can I make my yard drain better?”

Spring is right around the corner. It is a time of greenery and color. It’s also filled with rain.

For those of us in Gaithersburg who have basements, this is a scary proposition. On one hand, you want the rain to fall so it beautifies your lawn. On the other, this rain usually ends up in your basement, which is another can of worms onto itself.

In fact, many a customer has said, “My Gaithersburg MD basement floods every time it rains. How can I make my yard drain better?”

The good news is, planting trees, plants, and flowers does more than beautify the exterior of your home, it can prevent water from seeping into your basement during periods of increased rainfall.

How?

Don’t fret. We’ve got the answers you need. If your Gaithersburg MD basement floods every time it rains. Follow these tips to make your yard drain better:

  • Grade your yard. If your basement keeps flooding, it’s likely that the ground in your yard slopes towards your home. This cannot stand. To reverse this issue, you must understand the low and high points of your home. Once you do, use extra dirt to slope them accordingly.
  • Go native. When choosing the plants for your next landscaping project, choose ones indigenous to our region. Because they thrive in our specific environment, they do an excellent job of preventing soil runoff. They also enable storm water to drain more efficiently.
  • Leverage your mulch. Homeowners often use mulch to add a decorative element to gardens and other landscaping projects. But, in this case, a little goes a long way. Too much and it absorbs the rainwater, keeping it close to the structure of your home which leads to rot. To make the most of your mulch, plan your garden so it‘s not right next to your home. If you cannot, make sure it’s at least 6 inches from your siding. This will reduce moisture and protect the exterior of your home.
  • Plant grass. Grass has an ingenious root structure made to absorb water. Just make sure you don’t cut your lawn too short. Doing so weakens the roots and can cause flooding.
    Make a rain garden. We often plant these landscaping features in shallow depressions. This makes them an optimal place to collect excess water after it rains. Plus, since they’re filled with water-loving plants, they’re beautiful as well.
  • Use rain barrels to collect the water. This method works best when you place the rain barrels at the bottom of your downspout. While a little rustic, rain barrels help decrease reduce the amount of polluted runoff that goes into our natural waterways. Plus, you can also the water it catches for your lawn and garden during the dry season.

Excessive rain and the consequent flooding it causes is a real pain. Use the methods above to turn that pain into a form of artistic expression to make all your friends green with envy.

Posted on Author adminCategories basement flooding, Drainage

My College Park MD Basement Floods Every Time It Rains. How Can I Make My Yard Drain Better?

The other day a client said, “My College Park MD basement floods every time it rains. How can I make my yard drain better?”

Believe it or not, this is a common complaint for this area. To address this issue, we offer the following advice:

Most homeowners are unaware that what surrounds their home is often just as important as the structure itself. This is especially true in terms of keeping water out of your basement. Thankfully, there are several methods available to fix this problem. But, depending on the severity of the issue, things can get expensive rather quickly. Before you shell out your hard-earned money, consider trying these options:

  • A river runs through it – Find the path the water takes to your house to help you find the source of the drainage problems. Rainy days may not be the culprit like you think. For instance, if your sump pump’s discharge pipe is too close to your home, it can cause major flooding. To fix this problem, extend the drain lines running from your sump pump. Another option is to use strategic landscaping (grass, plants, and natural barriers) to redirect water from your home.
  • Give your lawn the proper grade – When your landscape grade runs toward your house, instead of away from it, this causes flooding. To fix this issue, dig a trench in your yard and fill it with cobblestones or river rock. This makes the water bisect the yard and flow around your house instead of towards it. If the thought of slicing your yard that doesn’t sit well with you, there’s a variation of this method you may find helpful. The French Drain technique, as it is known, allows water to flow into a gravel trench and then into a drainpipe.
  • Change the direction of your downspouts – If you trace your flooding issues to your downspouts, you‘re in luck. It’s an easy fix. Simply add an extender to your downspout so it drains the water about 20 feet away from your home. For added protection, place a decorative rock (like river stones) where the water comes down. The water will hit it and splash instead of creating holes that will eventually erode the soil.

When your College Park MD basement floods every time it rains, there are several things you can do to make your yard drain better. We understand this is a stressful time and calling a professional to fix this issue can cost an arm and a leg. The tips above can help you fix the problem yourself and keep your hard-earned money in your pockets. Good luck!

Posted on Author adminCategories basement flooding, Drainage