Stopping Erosion Caused By Rain

Homeowners often overlook erosion and flood control until it’s too late — and when it’s too late, it’s really too late. Storms in Northwest DC and Montgomery County, MD, frequently bring widespread heavy damage and erosion to homes in the area that lacked adequate preparation.

Given the risk of future storms and the expectation of seasonal spring rain, many homeowners have already turned to Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. to protect their property against the threats of flooding and erosion. More than just preventative measures, flood and erosion solutions provide the opportunity to beautify each yard, contribute to its environmental sustainability, and add to the home’s overall value. The experts here at Johnson’s Landscaping can provide a wide array of options to fit each home, including drainage and retaining walls. Check out some of the possibilities below and contact us to get started protecting your home.

Here are some solutions for rain and erosion:

Expanded drain pipes 

Strengthening the current system, we construct drain pipes under the ground to bring water away from the house. These pipes can quickly and efficiently move high volumes of water in heavy rain and flooding. Gutters often drain directly over the foundation, while expanded underground drain pipes carry water away from the house and into storm drains and other safer areas.

Retaining wall

A retaining wall can be useful in both keeping water off of your property and allowing it to drain away from your house. The wall provides a physical barrier against rising waters moving from the street and neighboring areas. 

Experts at Johnson’s Landscaping Service can enhance a wall’s drainage capabilities by installing areas behind the wall to allow for water to escape and filter out. Often, this means drilling “weep holes” so water can seep through the wall and down into the earth rather than pooling at the surface or behind the wall. Additionally, a flatter landscape encourages water to drain into the soil and not down a hillside.

Ground cover

Rain poses both short-term risks and long-term damage. In order to mitigate against erosion, Johnson’s Landscaping can help implement natural barriers such as pachysandra, periwinkle, or ornamental grass. The roots of these plants naturally retain soil and ground material and prevent water from extracting sediment. This happens throughout the natural world, from river banks to hillsides. Following large fires that destroyed vegetation in Malibu, rainfall caused massive mudslides and erosion. Restoration efforts to regrow vegetation look similar to our projects scaled down to a single yard. Elsewhere in flood-prone New Orleans, residents and municipalities are investing heavily into similar projects that employ plants’ natural anti-erosion capabilities.

Hillside boulders

Like planting ground cover, hillside boulders offer natural ways of reducing erosion and allowing drainage. They, too, anchor soil and interrupt the destructive flow of water. Boulders are the perfect way to beautify your space. They can complement the existing landscaping while incorporating new plants and ground cover.

Channel drains/catch basins

A catch basin is a box set into the ground, often at a low point in the landscape. It has a grate on top to collect water and catch debris. By collecting and removing water, catch basins can prevent rainwater stagnation that can hurt your lawn, plants and trees. The basins also add to the efficacy of a drainage system by allowing sediment and other material an area to settle, keeping it out of pipes and preventing clogs. They then connect to channels that expand the drainage capacity of a home beyond its gutter system to collect water from areas like driveways and patios. Cities construct similar channels on a much larger scale, showing that channels are preferred and effective means of redirecting floodwater into designated areas.

Sump pump

This is a pump connected to a water-collecting container called a sump basin. The pump moves the water out of the basin and into nearby drainage channels. Sometimes used in basements, sump pumps are also deployed in areas with high water tables or high amounts of accumulated water. They are especially effective in keeping water away from a home’s foundation, where it can do damage to critical areas of the home’s structure. Depending on the home’s surroundings, pumps can move water either external drainage systems or areas on the property where it can be reabsorbed safely.

Dry well

A dry well is a large hole filled with gravel that serves the above purpose of allowing water to dissipate into the ground. The well’s permeability brings the water farther below the surface, expanding the area it has to drain. This prevents both erosion and stagnation by allowing water a clear path back into the soil instead of stagnating on the surface or eroding sediment. Most of the time, dry wells are hidden by features like sod that keep your yard looking neat while remaining well-equipped below the surface.

Dry creek river rock bed

Dry creeks provide natural channels for water to drain. Similar to boulders and ground cover, they mimic nature’s own way of handling excess water. They are designed to minimize erosion by using a rock bed that prevents water from wearing away sediment and allows it to filter back into the ground. In addition, they provide an amazing opportunity to create a beautiful space full of life and charm. Johnson’s Landscaping Service can help you decide how to design your dry creek bed with plants and trees that will benefit from the flow of water and further protect your yard against flooding and erosion.

Flood and Erosion Control For Your Landscape

Clearly, the options for flood-proofing and erosion management are numerous and varied. From pumps to creek beds to retaining walls, the ways to protect your home and property all offer different advantages and costs. Luckily, the experts at Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. can work with each homeowner to layout a customized plan that fits their home and budget.

Have questions about erosion and your yard? Give Johnson’s Landscaping Service, Inc. a call to learn about solutions for rain and erosion in Northwest, Washington, DC, and Montgomery County, Maryland.