Landscaping With Solid or Corrugated Pipes

Landscaping with solid or corrugated pipes will eliminate problems in low lying areas and water flow. Low lying areas or water flow problems can damage your lawn or garden area. area.

You have a choice of two different types of plastic black piping. One is a solid pipe, the other is a pipe with small holes throughout the pipe, slits or corrugated. The pipes come in three, four, or six inch width.

The purpose of these pipes is to provide a way out for water sitting in a low area, or driving water out of an area that cannot flow properly.

The solid pipe is used for carrying water more evenly throughout your yard.

This pipe is used on uneven surfaces, as well as trying to get water to flow away from your house or other areas that could be damaged by excess moisture. You can connect these pipes to your gutters, using different size connectors.

If you have a sloped yard, you goal is get the water to run in the right direction from the highest point to the lowest. My crew and I did a landscape job, and the entire property was on a slope.

We used solid pipes at the top of the hill, and continued on down, angling the pipe to match the contour of the land. We tested the water flow before starting. We watched in what direction the water was going and followed this when we actually laid the pipes.

Our goal was to eliminate the possibly of water going towards their sidewalk or foundation.

We actually put some piping underneath the sidewalk before it was poured. Once we did the front yard, we proceeded to test the flow on the sides. We put pipes on both sides and carried the water down the rest of the slope.

If you are doing a new construction, talk with your contractor about any possibilities of water flow problems. One thing to do is always plan and prep your area properly.

If you have an existing home, you can test the water flow and install your own piping.

Of course, the other alternative, is to hire a professional to perform this task. The other type of pipe is corrugated. Some coastal homes and homes in flat areas, may have low lying difficulty.

You can install the corrugated pipe to allow water in the pipe, and then to carry it out of the problem area. We have used this pipe also and have started it at one end of the yard and ran the pipe across the low ground and continued it to the other side. You can also use a drain box and connect the pipe to the box.

The purpose of a drain box is to collect the water. A drain box can also be put in the middle of the yard and connect pipes on either side of the box.

I have also used a corrugated pipe from one side, connected it to a drain box in the middle of the yard, and then connected a solid pipe to go across the rest of the area. These two pipes and drain box are three simple ways you can deal with water issues in any outdoor project.

Below are a few tips on how to install a landscaping drainage pipe...

1. Look for signs of water problems when you get excess rain or snow totals.
2. Test the area with a hose and watch which direction the water is flowing.
3. Measure out the length of pipe you will need, and if you want to incorporate a drain box somewhere.



4. You can get different size boxes. There are also different size connectors. Talk with any professional on what kind of connector you will need for this landscaping project. There are elbows, Y and T connectors. You may also want to invest in a drain grate to allow water flow.





5. Dig a trench the length of where you are going to install your pipe. The trench will be one or two inches wider then the pipe. I usually run the depth a few inches deeper also. Use a shovel, mattocks, or ax to remove the soil.



6. You will need some small gravel to put along the pipe.



7. Once your trench is dug, run your piping along your trench. Always measure your width and height to make sure it is level and all the same.



8. Put the gravel along the sides of the piping.



9. Fill in the dirt and rake level.

Flex-Drain 53702 Flexible T / Y, Landscaping Drain Pipe Adapter and the Flex-Drain 55020 Drain Pipe Coupler Adapter, Female to Female are a couple of items you may need. Great way to shop instead of running all over the place trying to find these parts.

These are just a few suggestions for taking care of drainage problems in your yard, and completing another successful landscaping project. Contact me with specific questions you my have about your own yard.