Are you wondering why your garden isn’t draining efficiently?

It can be frustrating when your garden has drainage issues, and you can’t figure out why. Especially when you know the problem may be costly to fix.

And then there’s the added stress and anxiety that comes with worrying about it getting worse, and even affecting your neighbour’s garden!

Luckily, I’m here to help. At CLS, we’ve helped many customers solve their drainage issues over the years, and below I’m going to tell you five of the main causes for why your garden isn’t draining efficiently.

1. Your lawn has difficult soil conditions

Unfortunately, this is a problem I see a lot – especially in new housing estates. This is due to compacted soil as a result of builders’ lorries and trucks consistently travelling over it. Combine with the mixing of sub-soil and top soil when the foundations were excavated, and you’re left with a heavy, wet plot of ground.

This also happens when your lawn has been laid on top of compacted and clay soil surface.

2. Your soil was poorly prepared before the turf was laid

This is another common problem I see in many properties. If not enough top soil is installed before being levelled out, and the natural turf is laid, this can also lead to bad drainage in your garden.

3. Your property is on a slope

If your garden sits on a slope, I’m afraid this one probably has a lot to do with gravity. You’ll likely notice that water always seems to build up in one area, causing damage to your garden and leaving puddling that takes an age to disappear.

4. Your neighbours have a drainage system

This can be a surprising one, but if your neighbours have a drainage system, it could mean water running from their garden is now pointing towards yours. This is perhaps the most likely causing if you had previously not experienced any drainage issues in your garden.

5. Too much shade in your garden

If your garden has a few shaded areas, then your drainage problems could be due to the fact that the sun simply isn’t getting through to help dry out your garden after the rain.

The most effective solution to garden drainage

In my opinion, the most effective solution to garden drainage issues is to install artificial grass. This is because it involves a full excavation of the existing surface, before installing a fully porous system on top of the soil sub-base. You can read our blog post to find out more about why artificial grass is so effective at solving garden drainage problems.

As an example, we received a phone call from a customer who was very worried about the drainage in their back garden. They had young children, and had just moved into a new home, but couldn’t make use of the garden due to it being constantly wet and muddy.

The builder had put in real grass, but it didn’t take properly, and was patchy and muddy in areas. They wanted advice on how to rectify the problem, and wanted a cost for artificial grass. Unfortunately, the builder hadn’t offered this as an option when building their new home, otherwise they would have ordered it at the time.

They had been on our website and saw gardens that looked like theirs, thinking artificial grass might be the best option for them. They were worried about the cost, but really wanted a new garden ASAP so they could enjoy their garden in the summer.

Luckily, they really liked our product, and with a life expectancy of 15 – 20 years, they saw it as a great investment and the most cost-effective solution in the long-run.

That was two years ago, and they haven’t experienced any problems since!

Advice from an experienced landscaper

If you’re worried that your garden isn’t draining efficiently, I’d recommend seeking advice from a professional landscaper. More often than not, they’ll be happy to give you free advice and offer you a solution they think will work best for your garden.

You may also want to do a search online, as many people suffer from the same issues. Blogs and online forums are a good place to start your research.

Check out different solutions, and work out which one is best for you – whether it be artificial grass, or a real grass or porous paving solution. Once you decide on a solution, do your homework regarding different companies, and read reviews and testimonials to ensure your investment will definitely help with your drainage problems.

In my experience, it’s always best to go with someone that you have a good rapport with – and always trust your gut.

Conclusion

Concerned that your garden isn’t draining efficiently? There could be a number of reasons for this, as outlined above. Luckily, there are solutions out there. My advice is to speak to a professional, experienced landscaper who will be able to look at your situation and advise you further.

Artificial grass can be a great solution to drainage issues, but thoroughly do your research first to see which option is best for you.

Do you have any questions about your garden’s drainage problems? Feel free to leave a comment below – I promise to reply!