This Southampton project is a good example of a very common problem — a rear garden that became unusable every winter due to standing water on the lawn. The owners had lived with the problem for four years before calling us. We solved it permanently in two days.
Diagnosis
A site assessment revealed two causes: the garden had virtually no natural fall, meaning water had nowhere to go, and a compacted layer of clay approximately 25cm below the surface was preventing water from draining through. A French drain with a soakaway was the right solution.
The Solution
We installed a 14-metre French drain across the width of the garden at its lowest point, connecting to a 1-cubic-metre soakaway in the far corner. The trench was filled with 20mm clean stone around a 100mm perforated pipe and finished with a topsoil cap.
- 14m French drain across garden width
- 100mm perforated pipe in 20mm clean stone
- 1m³ soakaway connected at the far corner
- Lawn reinstatement over the drain line
- Total project time: 2 days
The Result
The following winter the lawn drained effectively after even heavy rainfall. The owners reported the garden was usable year-round for the first time since they moved in.
A&T Landscapes solves garden drainage problems across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. Call 07735 916029 for a drainage assessment.