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Encapsulation, waterproofing, and sump pumps can help keep water out of your basement. However, proper landscaping can also be an effective tool to maintaining a dry lower level.
Here are five helpful tips on landscaping to prevent basement flooding.
1. Correct Your Downspouts
Every home should have downspouts. When water collects in your gutters, those downspouts dump it out into the yard. However, if those spouts are pointed in the wrong direction, or aren’t long enough, they can send that water back into your basement. Downspouts should be pointed directly outward from where it connects to the gutter. Furthermore, they should also extend at least six feet past your home. The longer you can extend it, the better your protection.
2. Have a Mulch Gap
Mulch is a great addition to any home. It can give your front yard a cared for touch that makes it inviting for guests and visitors. However, it shouldn’t be pressed up against your house. Being made of wood, mulch absorbs water, and that will go directly to your home if there’s no gap. Have at least a one-foot gap between mulch and your home to ensure that excess water stays outside.
3. Insert Drainage Areas
In some instances, a home is built on a property that funnels water toward the building. If you have water buildup close to your home, then having drainage areas can resolve that easily. You can dig a small trench at the low points on your property and direct any water to travel away from your home. Just be sure you do proper measuring, sloping, and irrigation or your trench won’t work properly.
4. Use Rain Barrels
A solution often overlooked for flood prevention is using rain barrels. These are barrels that sit underneath gutters. When the water flows downward, instead of going to the ground, it falls in the barrel. What makes this solution special is that the collected rainwater can be reused later for watering plants or for hydrating your lawn during a dry spell. Just ¼ inch of rainfall can completely fill a rain barrel, making it an easy way to have extra water set aside for your plants.
5. Install a Dry Creek Bed
One of our strongest tips on landscaping to prevent basement flooding is to install a dry creek bed. A dry creek bed is a trench that is lined with landscape fabric and filled with stones and plants to mimic an actual stream. Not only can it be an attractive addition to any yard, but it will also serve as a strong irrigation system for any excess water. This can also help clear any puddles that naturally accumulate on your property.