Drainage Problems Are the Eternal Enemy of Kentucky Soil

You can do a lot to improve your landscape: grow, mow, aerate, irrigate, fertilize & winterize, to name a few essentials. But no matter what you do for your plant, there will always be some things that can undo it. Of course, part of that is a natural and maybe even enjoyable element of working with plants, but in some circumstances, you can’t prevail without correction. Drainage issues, for example, can destroy all the good you do for your yard. Luckily, there are ways to spot a drainage problem before it goes too far, and even more, luckily, we have ways to improve the drainage situation in your Kentucky home. Signs You Have A Drainage Problem Let’s start with the bad news. Like most landscaping diagnoses, every one of the signs you have a drainage problem we are about to discuss comes with a big asterisk beside it. This is because landscapes are holistic, and one sign is not enough for a layperson to diagnose why your plants are suffering. On the positive side, with the help of your trusted landscaper, you will be on track to diagnose and repair your landscaping issue, whether it’s drainage related or not. Here are the red flags that let you know you should call Perfection. Grass Discoloration One of the earliest signs you are having drainage issues is unhealthy grass. And one way to tell if your grass is unhealthy is its color. Lighter, less vividly colored, or dead grass might mean you must correct your drainage. Bare Patches The next step after unhealthy grass is dead grass or bare patches. As much as you might love how your lawn looks, losing grass isn’t just an aesthetic issue. It can lead to flooding and soil loss. Erosion Without plant roots holding your soil in place, you risk losing that soil. Soil loss will make it more difficult for future plants to thrive in your yard. Standing Water and Flooding Finally, the most obvious sign that you have a drainage problem is standing water or flooding - literally water that isn’t draining. If your ground is soggy, there are puddles on your lawn, or, worst case scenario, you have flood waters coming into your home, it’s clear you need drainage solutions. What Causes Poor Drainage? There are many reasons for drainage problems. But unfortunately, many of them are also caused by poor drainage. For example, drainage issues cause erosion, but erosion also causes drainage issues. They exacerbate each other. As water washes away soil, the soil gets more compact, making it less likely that plants will grow there, making drainage issues more likely. Another common reason for drainage issues is a change in your manufactured structures. For example, if you recently did construction on your property and suddenly started to have a flooding problem or standing water, there is a better than decent chance of a connection. The most straightforward cause of poor drainage to fix is over-watering. Naturally, if you are overwatering your lawn, this can cause issues. But, again, we always recommend talking to a pro when diagnosing your drainage problems and their causes and creating solutions. Why Worry About Drainage? Too much water can kill your plants. But beyond that, you can run into escalating problems once your plants have died. The lack of plants can cause erosion and property damage. While it can be expensive to replace your plants, it’s even more costly to replace your home’s structures. If water gets to your home, there’s a real possibility that you will need to remodel. Worst of all, access to water in your home can create health problems. Mold can grow in damp spaces and has been shown in some cases to exacerbate asthma and create additional health issues. Drainage Solutions We’ve spent a lot of time discussing problems, but no one likes a problem without a solution. And as bad as flooding and erosion can be for your landscape, all hope is not lost! There are many solutions for all of your drainage issues. We touched on the solution for the most manageable drainage problem - overwatering. But when elements outside your control cause your issues, you may need to change your yard. Typically, changing your yard to fix your drainage involves adding a drain or excavating. When land lies too high, sometimes moving it around is the best solution. But often, that’s not feasible and in those cases, adding a drain is the most affordable and straightforward way to solve your drainage woes.