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Garden drainage problems are becoming increasingly frequent occurrences for homeowners. With ever increasing weather unpredictability flooding events are becoming much more commonplace.
Over-development and hard surfacing have resulted in increased surface run-off and ground saturation. Such conditions lead to boggy lawns and flower borders rendering many gardens unusable. Consequently, many are seeking new, innovative ways to reduce levels of water absorption within their backyards. In this article I will explore how rainwater harvesting can reduce garden drainage problems. Does rainwater harvesting improve garden drainage?
Rain water harvesting from roofs and impermeable surfaces will reduce the amount of water being absorbed into your soil. This can contribute to the mitigation of localised garden drainage problems. However, very often, harvesting is not undertaken on a large enough scale to mitigate boggy ground conditions. 
Soil is naturally capable of absorbing a staggering amount of water. This amount is normally far beyond what is possible with water butts and garden storage tanks. However, with substantial rainwater harvesting such as soakaways, retention ponds and storage tank systems improved garden drainage can become a reality.
It should be noted that rainwater harvesting for drainage should be a part of a more holistic drainage strategy. Integrating; re-levelling, drainage channels, soil amelioration, de-compaction and harvesting is a far more certain way to solve garden drainage problems.
Rain water harvesting systems for garden drainage1. Water butts
Water butts can make a contribution to reducing surface run-off in gardens. However, anyone who has ever installed a water butt will know just how fast they fill. This is because even shed roofs are capable of collecting a significant volume of water after even moderate rainfall. In most gardens water butts fill with water and then simply overflow once full. When they are emptied it is often upon garden plants so they rarely make a difference to garden drainage.
2. Soak-aways
Soak-aways are capable of holding and storing a significant amount of collected storm water. Not only do soak-aways store the water they allow it to be slowly be reabsorbed by the subsoil. Contrary to common belief in most cases garden drainage is only skin deep. In simple terms most boggy ground would drain if it was levelled correctly and not compacted. Consequently, a cubic metre soak-away can provide a significant vessel for storm water to run to. Soak-aways can also be installed in a way that allows you to tap into collected water.
3. Retention ponds
Retention ponds are a kind of cross between a ground water storage tank and a garden pond. The aim of retention ponds is to harvest and retain storm water for later use. Such ponds become useful during hot summers when they can be accessed for landscape irrigation. Retention ponds can alleviate garden flooding by allowing storm water somewhere to drain to. These ponds can be built traditionally with liners but within low depressions within the landscape. This means during heavy rain the pond can fill up past the liner level. Such a system provides extra storage capacity and an ability for surrounding ground to reabsorb ground water.
4. Storage tank & pump systems
One of the ultimate ways to harvest rainwater in your garden is using underground storage tanks. These can be plumbed into roof gutters and patio drainage systems to harvest large volumes of water. During summertime, the stored water can be pumped to the surface for car washing and landscape irrigation. Most storage tanks on the market are made from durable polyethylene and come in a range of sizes. These systems can collect large volumes of water from the landscape helping to alleviate ground saturation levels.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that reducing the amount of surface water discharge on your garden will improve landscape drainage. However any significant impact will only be achieved by larger soakaways, retention ponds and generous storage tanks. Rain water harvesting can make a significant impact to landscape drainage on the correct scale. However, for a better chance of success, rainwater harvesting should become a part of a greater garden drainage strategy.
If you require garden drainage services do not hesitate to contact us. Based in Amersham, we provide a wide range of garden landscaping services including:
paving, patios, driveways, paths, edging, raised beds, garden drainage, lawn drainage, gardening, fencing, new lawns, garden walls, ponds, re-levelling, planting, wildlife gardens and vegetable gardens. Our landscaping services cover a 10 mile radius from Amersham and typically cover: Amersham, Aylesbury, Bovingdon, Chalfont, Chesham, Hyde Heath, Great Missenden, Princes Risborough, High Wycombe, Penn, Beaconsfield, Tring, Gerrard's Cross and Denham.
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