ALEXANDRIA, VA-After it rains, do you have a problem with your garden or yard collecting too much water? Does the water fail to drain properly? In this column, I will review two of your options. Both get rid of water but do so in different ways.
A French drain is a trench that is filled with permeable rocks or gravel that has a perforated pipe that carries water away. They vary in size and design, but they all serve the same function. They are great for helping drain water from the real problem areas in your yard that other methods of water management are not effective enough to mitigate.
A rain garden is a shallow depression filled with native plants that capture and filter rainwater into the ground. The plants soak up the water that would normally flow freely and release it into the ground where it will be naturally filtered through the soil. This leaves behind all the contaminants and ends with fresh and clean water being returned to the water table.
Now that I’ve explained both, you’re probably thinking pros and cons. French drains are more effective at water mitigation and remove the water almost instantly from your property. There will be runoff wherever the French drain releases the water, but it can be routed to storm drains and other safe places to direct the water. Rain Gardens are a slower process, but they completely remove the water and bring it down into the ground. They are also better for the environment and help and filter contaminant filled runoff.
So your choice really comes down to what you prefer. Greenstreet is capable and experienced with installing both options. Greenstreet Gardens thinks it may be a good idea to start pushing these types of drainage systems this time of year.
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