Garden drainage problems and who solves them
Practical guidance for homeowners across Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.
Poor drainage shows up in different ways: standing water, boggy lawns, dying plants, washed-out soil, damp retaining walls or water collecting against the house.
Find the source of the water
The first job is to understand where the water is coming from.
It may simply be heavy soil holding rainwater. It could be compacted ground, a blocked drain, a high water table, runoff from neighbouring land, a badly laid patio or a change in levels that sends water in the wrong direction.
Match the solution to the cause
The solution depends on the cause. Aerating or improving soil may help a compacted lawn. French drains or land drains can move water through a site. New paving may need proper falls and drainage channels. Retaining walls may need drainage behind them.
Know when to involve a specialist
Some problems need more than a landscaper. If water is affecting the house, foundations, sewers or neighbouring properties, a drainage specialist, surveyor, engineer or other qualified professional may need to be involved.
Plan where the water will go
Do not start by installing drainage because somebody has suggested a standard fix. Water has to go somewhere, and moving it from one part of the garden can create a problem somewhere else.
A proper drainage solution begins with levels, soil, existing drainage routes and the source of the water. Once those are understood, the repair can be designed around the actual problem.
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