Gardening and Horticulture - Draining a graden against the house/W a retaining wall
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mnfuzz
05-31-02, 10:41 AM
What is the best way to allow a garden that is against my house being held back by a retaining wall to drain? Was thinking of useing that black drain tubbing used in drain fields.
howiek
06-01-02, 04:34 AM
Hello mnfuzz
Is the retaining wall already built and how high is it?
You could put weeping tiles at the base of the wall (inside around the level of the ground on the other side) or even a layer of gravel covered with a permiable fabric to stop the soil from mixing in. You'll probably need a way for the water to get thru the wall - if it's solid, you might have to drill holes to the lower side every few feet. If the wall is loose rock or brick, the gaps in the wall will allow the water thru. Once again a landscape fabric or similar against the wall at the gaps will help stop soil from passing thru.
Also, try to keep the grade at the soil surface sloping away from your house. During a heavy rainfall, a lot of the water will drain at the surface before it starts percolating down if the slope is sufficient.
Good Luck
Howie
Is the retaining wall already built and how high is it?
You could put weeping tiles at the base of the wall (inside around the level of the ground on the other side) or even a layer of gravel covered with a permiable fabric to stop the soil from mixing in. You'll probably need a way for the water to get thru the wall - if it's solid, you might have to drill holes to the lower side every few feet. If the wall is loose rock or brick, the gaps in the wall will allow the water thru. Once again a landscape fabric or similar against the wall at the gaps will help stop soil from passing thru.
Also, try to keep the grade at the soil surface sloping away from your house. During a heavy rainfall, a lot of the water will drain at the surface before it starts percolating down if the slope is sufficient.
Good Luck
Howie