Winter is just around the corner and for us Santa Cruzans, that means rain. Excessive downfalls can wreak havoc on landscapes, causing expensive damage that could take weeks to repair and restore. Just like routine maintenance and irrigation are important for your landscaping, equally imperative is drainage. Don’t let your hard work get washed away with the next round of storms! Invest now in a landscaping drainage system that will protect your property from flooding.
Let’s start with your house or building; the first aspect that often gets overlooked is gutters. The downspouts that carry water down from the gutters can concentrate heavy water flows into the landscape and allow water to pool up against your foundation. We suggest piping the water directly from your down spouts and into a dissipation pit or drainage system. With the amazing views we have in the Santa Cruz area, we no doubt have to battle elevations. If there is a hillside above your home it’s important to intercept the water before it reaches your house, using a swale or French drain.
A swale is a depression within the landscape that redirects water drainage. While a swale doesn’t stop all erosion, it does help direct water to a specific drainage area, defending your landscape or home from flooding. You can make your swale even more effective by adding pebbles, boulders and water-loving plants that will help slow down the water. Make sure to design your swale so it’s not too steep or too flat, either can cause issues with your water flow. We recommend a 10:1 slope for your swale, (1 foot of elevation drop for every 10 feet of distance).
f you have heavy soils, such as clay, you can still have a problem with waterlogging even after the runoff drains away from the yard. You can improve this unwanted soil retention by installing different types of sub-surface drainage systems in your yard, including French drain systems, or surface drains with piping to carry the water to the appropriate area. When a hillside reaches its water holding capacity it can lead to landslides and washouts. Engaging the assistance of a professional landscape planner is strongly advised if you are dealing with steep slopes or challenging applications.
Areas that have been recently graded but not yet planted, or hillsides that have been scorched by our recent fires, are high-risk situations. When you have bare ground, plant low growing native planting or another type of ground cover to reduce the possibility of erosion. If it’s late in the season and rain is around the corner, you can install a product called Jute Netting. This can be put in over bare dirt and is very effective in holding the soil together during rain events. Another immediate solution for exposed hillsides is Hydroseed. This is an application method that installs grass or plant seed, a soil tackifier, and then a fertilizer. It covers and protects the hillside while the seed germinate to provide long term stability.
In addition to drainage, another proactive measure you can take to safeguard your home from excess water is to upgrade your irrigation system. As technology continues to evolve, there are several irrigation options available that include soil monitoring sensors, rain shut-off devices and smart controllers. These features make it easy for homeowners to monitor their landscape and identify problems the very instant they begin to occur. For example, rain shut-off devices can detect rain and temporarily turn off your irrigation system to prevent overwatering. You don’t want to be that neighbor who has their sprinklers running during a rain event!
Once the clouds have parted and the sun is shining, its easy to forget about last year’s rainwater issues. Umbrella your home from future costly repairs like foundation flooding and landscape pooling by installing proper drainage. Put your “rainy day fund” to literal use and design a plan for your home to withstand California’s climate and shield against its heavy rainfall.
