Rainwater management is an important part of landscape design. If you have invested in an efficient gutter and drainage system, it only follows that you should also have a way to manage the rainwater that flows into your yard. Your trusted gutter guard installer Gutter Helmet® Systems of Alabama shares a look at how to have an efficient rainwater management system in your landscape design.
Slow the Runoff Down
The first part of your strategy is to find a way to slow down the rate rainwater gets onto the landscaping. Start by identifying areas where runoff appears to run freely. These areas typically include hard and sloped surfaces such as driveways and paths, along with your gutter system.
You can employ one or more strategies to slow down the flow of rainwater in these areas. Starting with the house itself, you can have a rainwater collection system installed, or perhaps convert a flat roof into a green roof. Both help reduce the runoff that would end up in the drainage system. Swales—ditches that collect rainwater—can be dug in the landscaping. Planting on steep slopes can also help slow runoff down. These strategies also have the additional benefit of preventing soil erosion.
Spread the Runoff
Spreading the runoff takes a “divide and conquer” approach, which complements the strategies described above. The objective is to thin out the runoff in areas where they’re particularly strong. Covering bare ground with stones, pavers, or coarse-grade mulch can increase the ground area where runoff can flow; instead of a focused stream, it will fan out.
For medium-to-large yards, a rain garden can be an effective way to make use of most of the rainwater runoff. A rain garden is built on a small depression, filled with native shrubs and perennials. Up to 12 inches of the soil in it is removed and altered to increase its ability to collect rainwater.
Sink Water Into the Ground
Another quality of rain gardens that can be employed in other parts of your landscaping is its ability to sink rainwater into the ground. We have discussed covering or altering the ground to slow down and spread rainwater. Certain materials, such as gravel and wood chips, allow rainwater to slowly infiltrate the soil. Planting beds of plants that consume high amounts of moisture can help control rainwater infiltration. While the objective is to sink rainwater, it should be at a rate that it doesn’t affect the composition of the ground the house stands on. Otherwise, it would defeat the purpose of managing rainwater runoff.
Gutter Helmet® Systems of Alabama is your leading gutter guard installer and gutter systems provider. Give us a call at (866) 598-7525 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Chelsea, Alabama, and nearby areas.
