
Houston French Drains, Drainage Systems, Yard Drains, Channel Drains
Effective and ecologically-correct features of a landscape drainage system, French drains are trenches or ditches filled with gravel (usually) that move water parallel to the ground. Water flows much easier through loose gravel, especially as compared to the thick, gumbo-like clay soil found here in Houston. To further ease the flow of water from the wet area to the dry one, a French drainage system will often have pipes buried in the gravel.
The Positives
French drains can have a positive impact on your overall landscape. Advantages include:
• By draining standing water out of the landscape while at the same time storing rain water in the subsoil, this type of drain helps your grass look healthy and vibrant. Thus your overall lawn service is improved.
• French drains can be a de facto part of your irrigation systems. They can be developed by landscape designers or landscape architects so that water collects in and nurtures garden beds, thus conserving water. French drains turn your landscape into a green garden-in both senses of the word "green."
• Residential landscape maintenance is made easier with French drains since they prevent standing water that can cause slippery surfaces and mosquito breeding grounds. They also help prevent drowned plants and help reducing fungus growth, which is the main killer of plants in tropical climates.
Drainage Systems: An Overview
In Houston, storm drainage issues are very serious due to our flat topography, dense clay soils, and heavy forested lots compacted by years of construction that have increased impervious surfaces. These factors have caused more streets and homes to become flooded during the heaviest rainfalls. Consequently, local ordinances are beginning to follow the model used by the Memorial Villages that require minimum pipe sizes, flow rates, temporary drainage systems, engineered drainage plans, calculations, topographic maps, and as/built plans.
"If drainage contractors embark on a drainage project without a thorough understanding of these demands, homeowners may find themselves drowning in a big mess that can cost thousands to rectify," says Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist with Exterior Worlds.
Tree Preservation and Tree projection
When installing any drainage system, it is recommended to hand-dig trenches around trees to minimize damage to them. It is best to tunnel under tree roots by using compressed air. This tree preservation method exposes tree roots so they are not torn. Alternately, pressurized water can be used to dig deep trenches and expose roots, which also minimizes damage. Tree preservation is one of the most important aspects of proper drain installation procedures.
Fun to Know
French drains were not invented in France. Rather Henry French of Concord, Massachusetts came up with the idea in the mid-1800s. A judge and farmer, he published a book on the subject with the memorable title-"Farm Drainage-The Principles, Processes, and Effects of Draining Land with Stones, Wood, Plows, and Open Ditches and Especially with Tiles, Including Tables of Rain-Fall, Evaporation, Filtration, Excavation, Capacity of Pipes, Cost and Number to the Acre of Tiles, Etc, Etc.
About the Author
Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At
Exterior Worlds
you can read more about
French Drainage systems
Young MacDonalds Hit the Farm
Here"s some great eBay Acre Mosquito Farming products that you might need:
![]() |
![]() DYNATRAP DT2000XL INSECT MOSQUITOS MOTHS WASPS ELIMINATOR 1 ACRE COVERAGE NEW US $168.99
|
![]() Essential Medicinal Culinary Garden Survival Herb Seed Cache US $12.99
|
![]() DYNATRAP DT1200 INDOOR OUTDOOR INSECT MOSQUITOES ELIMINATOR WITH STAND 1 2 ACRE US $128.99
|
![]() Essential Medicinal Culinary Garden Survival Herb Seed Cache Packed For 2012 US $12.99
|
![]() DYNATRAP DT1100 INDOOR OUTDOOR MOSQUITOS INSECT ELIMINATOR 1 2 ACRE COVERAGE NEW US $112.99
|
![]() TWO 18th CENTURY ALS EDENTON NORTH CAROLINA SOMERSET PLANTATION –SLAVE HOLDER US $695.00
|
![]() WHOLESALE NONI FOR RESALE 24 CASES 360 BOTTLES NONI MAYA COPAN 100 NONI JUICE US $4,500.00
|
![]() WHOLESALE NONI FOR RESALE 12 CASES 180 BOTTLES NONI MAYA COPAN 100 NONI JUICE US $2,880.00
|
![]() WHOLESALE NONI FOR RESALE 6 CASES 90 BOTTLES NONI MAYA COPAN 100 NONI JUICE US $1,800.00
|
![]() PROMOTE HEALTH HELP REFORESTATION OF HONDURAS w NONI MAYA COPAN JUICE NJS 001 US $40.00 |
![]() PROMOTE HEALTH HELP REFORESTATION OF HONDURAS w NONI MAYA COPAN JUICE NJP 001 US $40.00 |
![]() Organic Garden Pesticide all Natural US $17.99
|
![]() KAZ STINGER FP15CR FLAT PANEL INSECT BUG ZAPPER 5 ACRE US $46.99
|
![]() MOSQUITO MAGNET MM4100 PATRIOT MOSQUITO REPELLENT OCTENOL 1 ACRE 50 CORD LENGTH US $343.99
|
![]() Petticoat Junction First 21 Episodes 2 DVD set US $12.98
|
![]() MOSQUITO MAGNET MM3200 CORDLESS INDEPENDENCE MOSQUITO REPELLENT 1 ACRE NEW US $599.99
|
![]() STINGER UV 801N ELECTRIC INSECT KILLER BUG ZAPPER 80W US $84.99
|
![]() MOSQUITO MAGNET MM3300 CORDLESS EXECUTIVE MOSQUITO TRAP US $749.99
|
![]() KAZ STINGER UV 40N INSECT KILLER BUG ZAPPER 1 ACRE 40W US $61.99
|
![]() Three Acres And Liberty NEW by Bolton Hall US $15.45
|
![]() Old Chinese Carving of THE TWENTY FOUR PARAGONS OF FILIAL PIETY US $1,999.00
|
![]() CE4 NEW GLARUS BEER TAP HANDLE NAKED LOGO BAR PUB HANDLES 1TAPPER PULL KNOB US $87.99
|


US $168.99




















