A garden that stays boggy for days after rain, or develops standing water in the same place each time, usually has a drainage problem. The cause is not always obvious, and it is worth working out whether the water is coming from the sky, the ground or a pipe.
How land drains work
A land drain, sometimes called a French drain, is a perforated pipe laid in a gravel-filled trench. Water in the surrounding soil seeps through the gravel into the pipe and is carried away to a ditch, soakaway or surface water drain. It is designed to lower the water level in the ground, not to carry waste.
Why gardens become waterlogged
- Heavy clay soil that does not let water pass through easily
- Compacted ground from building work, vehicles or heavy use
- A high water table in wet seasons or low-lying areas
- A blocked or silted land drain that can no longer take water away
- Run-off from paving and roofs directed onto a lawn that cannot absorb it
Land drain or leaking pipe?
Persistent wet patches, unusually green growth along a line, or a smell can point to a leaking foul drain rather than simple wet ground. Rainwater pipes that are cracked or disconnected can cause similar symptoms. This is worth ruling out before assuming it is only a soggy lawn.
Soakaways are a different thing
A soakaway is designed to receive rainwater from roofs and hard surfaces and let it disperse into the ground. If a soakaway is full or failing, it can contribute to a waterlogged garden. Our guides on soakaways and soakaways for rainwater explain how they differ from land drains.
Finding the real cause
A CCTV drain survey of the pipework on your property can show whether the drains are intact and flowing, which narrows down whether the issue is the ground or the plumbing.
If part of your garden stays wet and you are not sure why, we can check whether the drains are involved. Call us on 0333 200 1623 or use our contact page and we will help.