Our first concern in analyzing landscape projects is to consider drainage problems that may exist for the house foundation, plantings, and traffic areas.

These new homeowners wanted to take no risks in stopping any drainage issues that had contributed to their moldy basement from years of neglect.

Our solutions were to:

• Redesign and lay the brick walk so that it drained away from the house.
  
• Redirect all downspouts away from the house with a closed French drain. We dug a “dry well” at the end of each pipe and filled it with gravel to direct the water deep into the ground.
  
• Lay the beautiful chalet gravel up against the house and porch to double as a stone feature and barrier for any moisture that may collect there.
  

• Create a natural swale which would redirect any water that came from the upper portion of their lot.
  

If it does rain forty days and forty nights, this is the place to go to stay dry!

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.