Install Drainage In The Garden

To install garden drainage will help prevent the garden from being waterlogged and the water to exist correctly. There are many different drainage systems that can be installed within the garden to help remove excess water. Having no drainage systems or poor drainage will cause the garden to be overflooded, ruining the plants within. Optimised Plumbing Services promises to install any garden drainage system correctly into any garden.

Garden drainage is installed to prevent a waterlogged garden from occurring and lead water out of the garden. The main types of drainage systems which can be installed into gardens include:

• Surface Drainage – removes surface water and is good for parts of the garden when water pools on the surface.
• Sub-Surface Drainage – these are also called ‘French Ditches or Drainage’ and collect stagnant water leading it underground. 
• Slope Ditches – this will simply have water run down onto a slope and enter other drainage channels. 
• Herringbone Drainage – pipes are built on a slope with a herringbone pattern to draw stagnant water in multiple areas.

What Drainage Systems Can I Install in my Garden?

There are many different systems of garden drainage systems to help with removing excess water or statements of water. To know what drainage is we recommend reading our blog ‘what is drainage’ to be familiar with the systems. Below is a guide on the different garden drainage units that can be installed and how to work on them.

Surface Drainage

Installing drainage systems on the surface of the garden can mean that water can flow from the surface into the trenches. These trenches, ranging from 130mm to 1m into the ground, will carry the water away from the garden. To install a surface drainage system to prevent heavy rain from ruining the garden follow these steps:

1. Dig a trench into the ground using a shovel to create an easy channel. The trench can be 130mm deep or up to 1m, and also 230mm wide, to be effective in storing and moving water.
2. Install the fit end caps to the drain and make sure they are secured by using a silicone sealant. These will ensure that one side of the drain does not have water exiting there but flowing down the other side into the drain. An output pipe can be installed alongside the drain which will require additional cutting and digging.
3. The drain should be laid after the concrete has been laid in the middle of the trench. With the grate in place, the drain should be positioned and tamped down by using a rubber mallet. The output drain should be connected to the surface drainage for water to run from the surface into the drain.

Subsurface Drainage

When water stays in one area of the garden then it is a good idea to install subsurface drains. These drains will involve a trench around 150mm wide and 300mm deep and a drain that catches the stagnant water. To install a sub-surface, or French drain, follow these guidelines:

1. Locate a slop in the ground to then dig a hole then a horizontal trench. The trench should be dug across the length of the drain’s direction and can vary in size.
2. A string and string level will be used next to adjust the trench’s slope and make sure to constantly check the slope is correct.
3. Landscape fabric will be used to line the trench to help with water percolation.
4. To fill the bottom of the trench with gravel use a shovel and have the fabric folded over.
5. Gravel should be added on top of the fabric with it spread evenly to keep the slope shape.
6. Topsoil will be used to cover this trench and ensure that it is distributed evenly.

Slope Ditches

Slope garden drainage is a simple way to divert water down a slope and into a catchment or drain. If there is a small amount of stagnant water then a slope ditch can be the most cost-effective and efficient way to deal with the issue. To create a slope drainage system follow these steps:

1. Find a place in or near the garden where there is a slope for the drainage to be made.
2. Dig a ditch of about 900mm containing sloping sides which are dug out at the lower end section.
3. The water which flows down the slope should enter other types of drainage systems or a place where the water can safely exit the garden.

Herringbone Drainage

These drainage systems are built on slopes like subsurface drains but have extra catchments connecting to the main drain. These additional trenches are meant for gardens where water builds up in many places and need to be collected and transported away. The pattern of these added drainages are in the form of herringbone and will also be installed in odd-shaped gardens. To install good drainage in the form of herringbone follow these steps:

1. The main trench should be in the highest parts of the garden and leads to the lowest. After marking the main trench mark the side trenches where they will join at a 45 degree angle.
2. The side drains should be 3m away from each other in clay soils and 7-8m in loamy soils.
3. The trenches should be cut similar to a subsurface drain and a landscape fabric will be applied for improved water percolation.
4. Fill the bottom of the trench with gravel by using a shovel and have the fabric folded over it.
5. Add the topsoil to the drainage and then dig a hole 1.2m deep at the lowest point of the end trench. This acts as a soakaway and is a pit where water will slowly soak into the soil.
6. The soakaway hole should be connected to the main drain to help with the efficiency of the system.

Reliable Drainage Services in Sydney

Optimised Plumbing Services is here with our garden drainage installation services to help with drainage issues. We will operate at any time through our Emergency Plumber service to install and repair drainage systems. Each fully qualified plumber will follow the plumbing guidelines to ensure that proper garden drainage is built or repaired.

Our Blocked Drain team will be here if there is a blockage in the drainage system, ranging from removing leaves to dealing with tree roots. Gutters also prevent water from overflowing the garden, for tips on how to unclog a blocked gutter read our blog article for more information.

For reliable garden drainage services at any time – contact Optimised Plumbing Services now on 02 8074 1475!