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How to Prepare Your Outdoor Area for Heavy Rains

We are about a month away from the start of the rainy season, and if the past few years are anything to go by, every homeowner should ensure their garden or outdoors is prepared for some heavy rainfall.

10/08/2023

 

 

 

 

If the last few years are anything to go by, we can expect heavy rainfall on the Highveld in the next month or so and now might be a good time to do any preparation if your outdoor area or garden gets flooded or waterlogged. We already have plenty of articles on the topic of waterlogged gardens and how you can reduce the damage that this might cause, as well as articles on installing DIY French drains to re-direct the flow of water away from your property. In this article, we take a look at decorative ways to eliminate excess water from pooling on the ground or collecting around the foundations or the property or outbuildings. 

 

 

Areas where water tends to pool or the garden becomes waterlogged are common in many gardens that are not level or have a sloped layout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is a Rain Garden or Dry River Bed?

A rain garden or dry riverbed is a landscaping trick that not only looks great but is also an excellent solution if you have a garden where water runoff is a problem. Any slope in a garden, particularly one that directs rainfall towards property foundations, requires attention to re-direct the water flow so that this does not become a problem that could result in expensive repairs.

 

 

 

 

A simple way to re-direct water away from foundations is to lay a dry river bed that carries the water away. 

 

 

 

 

Not only can heavy rainfalls cause damage to your home via a damaged roof but also via the foundations. Excess water that has nowhere to go builds up in low areas or against walls and can be a cause of concern if rains persist. For homeowners, you do not want the situation to happen where rainwater reaches a level about that of a DPC (damp proof course) of a property or worse, that reaches a level where it is able to enter the house itself. We offer some ideas for rain gardens and dry riverbeds that look amazing in a garden but that also help to drain away excess water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Build a Rain Garden or Dry River Bed

Gravel, pebbles, and rocks are a way of incorporating natural elements to address waterlogged gardens or poor drainage. A trench is created in the garden and is then filled with assorted rocks and stones to resemble a dry river bed. This landscaping feature collects rainwater and allows it to drain into the ground below and eliminates waterlogging or possible flooding.

 

 

 

 

If you have a severe problem with excess water in the garden, dig a trench approximately 30 cm deep and fill this with gravel or common rocks and leave just enough space on the top to add a decorative layer of attractive pebbles and decorative rocks. You can make the width of the river bed narrow or wide depending on how much water tends to flood the garden. Planting grasses and groundcovers along the edges further lend the look of a dry river bed.

 

 

 

 

It isn't always the back garden that has water problems, front gardens suffer just as much particularly if the front of the garden slopes towards the house or garage. With the exception of installing a French drain, the simple solution is to put in a dry river bed or rain garden that can move the flow of rainwater away from the property.

 

 

 

 

Downspouts can also cause water pooling around foundations and there is a simple solution for this... Create a dry river bed along which the wastewater can flow away from buildings.

 

 

 

 

 

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