Garden Drainage Problems: What Can Be Done?

Waterlogged lawns, pooling water on patios and flooded paths are common problems in Macclesfield and Cheshire, particularly during the wetter months. Poor drainage can damage your garden, make it unusable for much of the year, and in serious cases can affect the structure of your house. This guide explains the common causes and the solutions available.

Common Causes of Garden Drainage Problems

• Heavy clay soil — Cheshire has significant areas of heavy clay soil that drains poorly and becomes waterlogged in wet weather.
• Compacted soil — foot traffic, machinery and construction work can compact the soil, preventing water from draining through.
• Impermeable hard surfaces — large areas of paving or concrete prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground.
• Blocked or inadequate drainage — existing drainage channels or soakaways may be blocked or insufficient for the volume of water.
• Low-lying ground — gardens that sit lower than surrounding land will naturally collect water.

Solutions

• French drains — a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that collects and redirects groundwater.
• Soakaways — a pit filled with rubble or a proprietary plastic crate system that allows water to disperse into the surrounding ground.
• Drainage channels — linear channels set into hard surfaces that collect surface water and direct it to a drain or soakaway.
• Permeable paving — paving that allows water to pass through the surface into a sub-base and then into the ground.
• Raised beds and re-grading — reshaping the garden to direct water away from problem areas.
• Lawn aeration — for waterlogged lawns, regular aeration can improve drainage significantly.