Water should leave a garden in a controlled way. When levels, soil or outlets fail, the result can be standing water, damaged roots, stained paving and damp beside the building.
How to recognise a problem
Common signs include water remaining for hours after rain, soft areas, damp smells, yellowing plants and deteriorating joints. On terraces, drains and overflow outlets should also remain visible and accessible.
Assess before building
There is no single solution. Levels, gradients, soil permeability, waterproofing and the discharge point all need inspection. Sometimes reshaping the surface is enough; other sites require drainage layers, trenches, channels or attenuation storage.
Drainage and planting
Plant selection should suit the soil and exposure. Improving soil structure and grouping plants with similar needs prevents irrigation from solving one problem while causing another. Rainwater can be reused when the system is correctly sized and maintained.
Solve it before the finishes
Drainage should be coordinated with irrigation, lighting, foundations and paving. Repairing it after stone, timber or artificial grass has been installed is usually slower and more expensive. It belongs in the technical design, not at the end of the project.
