David Domoney on Garden Drainage

7 October 2020

What use is a patio in the rain?

The bronze tones of falling leaves are all around and autumn greets us with a chill in the air. Preparing for the cooler, wetter season will differ, depending on whether you have a luscious lawn or a patio paradise, so here are a few things to think about.

 

 

The unpredictable British weather means our gardens should be prepared for heavy rainfall. When we do have prolonged periods of rain, it can result in waterlogging and flooding, but striking a balance between lawns and permeable surfaces can help a great deal in reducing the risk.

When rain falls on hard surfaces, it rolls to where it can drain away, to a purpose-built drain or to the lawn or borders where the soil absorbs the water until it is saturated. Therefore, it’s ideal to consider water drainage before you lay down any materials, thinking about slopes or falls to aid it.

 

 

Lawns do a great job of soaking up moisture, so keeping on top of lawn care and maintenance will bring many benefits. With this in mind, regularly aerating the lawn will increase the drainage levels further, rather than having a tightly compact area which allows less water to drain. Aerating also gives the opportunity to reseed parts of the lawn to encourage germination of thicker and healthier grass. After the heat of summer, there may also be a few spots in your lawn to repair from furniture or the kids’ games.

 

 

As well as grass, having plants that will soak up plenty of moisture from their roots will go a long way to helping reduce rainwater from saturating the ground.

 

 

Alternatively, a rain garden can be the perfect addition to a paved area as a low maintenance but highly productive area, which makes the most out of falling rain by directing it to thirsty plants. These areas are a shallow spot where rain that runs from roofs and eaves goes straight to plants that are moisture loving.

 

 

Having a rain garden surrounded by paving with the sandy tones of Piazza ‘Oasis’ or ‘Summit’, will give the finishing touch to the space. What’s more, the texture of the paving provides anti-slip qualities, making them the perfect pavers. Iris ‘Regal Surprise’ is a pretty choice that likes poorly drained soil, so these hardy perennials will appreciate the moisture.
 

Evergreens are a top choice as they will have foliage all year round to help soak up moisture, and they will also shelter the ground from any intense direct rainfall. For instance, Carex elata (Bowles’ golden sedge) ‘Aurea’ is an evergreen perennial that grows well in poorly drained soil in a partially shaded or sunny spot.

 

 

Whether you opt for paving, a large lawn, or both; sectioning the garden allows visual boundaries in the garden to create the illusion of more space because each area has its own purpose.

 

 

Separate the lawn from the dining area on the patio and from your beds and borders using edging. In addition, using a physical boundary such as Round Top Edging will keep your lawn looking tidy and prevent it from straying into borders. Alternatively, for a flat-laying edging solution, Cobblestone Edging is an ideal finishing touch with its grey tones that will suit any style garden, from contemporary courtyard to charming cottage style.

The Driveway too should aid drainage

It’s not all about the back garden. In fact, as the first thing that you see as you step out of your front door and the first impression for visitors, front gardens are quite important. With over 38 million licensed vehicles on the UK roads, many people opting for a paved driveaway rather than a lawned front garden. But what if you could have both a functional driveway and a flourishing front garden?

 

 

Having a driveway doesn’t mean there’s no room for plants, as some low-maintenance options can even withstand being parked over. For instance, creeping jenny is a great evergreen pick for colour all year round. With full sun or partial shade, these vigorous growers are ideal for ground cover and aren’t fussy with soil type.

A permeable paving solution is Pavestone’s GrassPark which provides a sturdy paving grid for parking, whilst allowing grass to grow through, so it keeps the area green too. Not only does it look great, but it helps with natural drainage of rainwater into the subsoil. This means it’ll be perfect for those rainy days and reduce the risk of flooding.

So, there’s no need to compromise. The benefits of having a lawn will show in the rainy months, and permeable paving will be sure to help strike the perfect balance of purposeful paving and plenty of greenery for your front and back garden.

 

There are many more videos featured here for you to explore.

David Domoney, TV gardener, horticultural expert and Pavestone brand ambassador blogs monthly on the Pavestone website on all things landscaping related.

We look forward to seeing you back again next month.

 

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