People who live in dry climates don’t usually think of drainage problems as affecting them but the reality is that these issues can occur no matter where you are located. Depending on the irrigation system you have installed, a leak could create a great deal of damage and when it does rain in Austin, it is crucial to have adequate drainage. Here are some ways to solve drainage issues whether they are due to a natural occurrence such as rain or simple overwatering.
Aerating is one good method of helping your lawn drain naturally. This involves punching small holes in various parts of the lawn to remove cores of soil and therefore add air pockets. These air pockets in turn provide more room for water to evaporate. Because of this, aeration should be used carefully in drier climates with little rainfall.
In some cases the drainage problem will only occur in certain areas of the lawn. You may notice, for example, that after you use your sprinkler system water tends to pool in a certain area. If the drainage issue occurs in a small area of the lawn such as in the case described, you could try creating a small border in the area and fill it with small plants. These plants will soak up the excess water and use it to grow.
Another option to help take care of this excess water is to add compost to the area. You can either add a blend of compost and top soil or compost and sand on top of the soil. When you add organic matter (such as compost) on top of the soil, you increase its ability to hold water, decreasing drainage problems and helping plants thrive in areas that do not get as much water. Adding compost is versatile as it works in soil that is sandy in texture as well as soil that has heavy clay content.
A final choice is to add a permanent drainage system to your yard such as a French drain. This particular type of drain is placed in the part of the lawn with the lowest elevation so it…