Spring never fails to come with all sorts of twists and turns. And it wouldn’t be the same if it didn’t, right? I dress for snow and end up at the end of the day in shorts. With that also comes the rains the nourish our soil for farming time. With that comes erosion and water issues as well. This leads me to today’s project, a DIY French drain to help with my backyard scenario.

Back in November, just after I moved into my new home, I took a much-needed day’s break from building my son’s room to get some garden therapy.

With all the horrible flooding in our area, this “pond” at the bottom of my terrace and in my backyard, gets a bit bigger than this, but not horrible. My home is situated on a hill with a swale on one side, so no major issues, thankfully.

However, I want to fix the yard with grace, reset the terrace and more. In order to do that, I need to solve this issue.

Also, if you recall, I’ve mentioned before that a very large outbuilding took up this space and was torn down just before I bought it. I’ve been told that building was an eyesore and now I need to make this backyard welcoming again.

Do you see the potential including sweat-equity?

Well, before I start sweating, let me share another side story with you.

GOT GAS?

In my last post, I mention working on the family room as I waited for my driveway to be poured and my new garage to get the sign off from the inspector.

While working to prep so I can finish the work, I call a local contractor to come give me advice on removing a gas pipe that is capped off and sticking into my family room.

Let me introduce you to Seth (or me reenacting sweet Seth)

There’s a story here that I share in my video below.

For the sake of the story, just know I now have more work to do that originally planned.

Nothing new here! {{head smack}} But also good because now I know more about my options, which is the goal.

MT. DIGMORE

Okay… meanwhile, I am FINALLY able to get outside and tackle Mt. Digmore! {{happy dancin’!!}}

I have been staring at this challenge all winter long and I can’t wait to see it minimized.

This is the topsoil/clay/sod mountain that is left over from my garage build.

First, I need to fill in around my garage and driveway.

I’m super thankful to my three youngest who pitched in here and there to help with all this. The soil was a bit frozen on the crust, but by the end of the three days it was a bit easier to move. It was 22-degress when I started this morning and end up in shorts by afternoon. Gotta love Ohio!

NOW TO THE BACK

As soon as the garage and drive are filled in I set to dig a DIY French drain trench in front of the garden terrace.

Why a French drain?

Well, these are a wonderful way to get water flowing where you want it without huge equipment and budget. Read more HERE.

The idea is you:

• trench where you want the water to flow by grading it at a slight tilt
• line the trench with a non-woven landscaping fabric (you want water penetration) allowing excess on sides to cover up when done
• line the bottom of your fabric-lined trench with drainage stone allowing space for pipe and more stone on top
• place your perforated pipe – there are different varieties, I chose this model for price and flexibility (see below for more)
• top fill the trench with more stone over the pipe
• fold in excess fabric making a burrito style wrap
• top with loose topsoil
• spread seed or finish as desired

My goal is to get the pipe and other unknowns out of there, including the HUGE poison ivy vines.

You can see all these details in my vlog video below. (tap/click the image below so you don’t miss half the content!)

These 4″x 4″ beams and other boards made the job easier to dig, but it was still a heavy and hard chore with all the wet clay.

While I did most of the digging and setup myself, it’s nice when someone wants to jump in and help. I need to remove the ramp to my stairs so that I can finish the trench to the other side.

MO’ DIGGIN’

After digging the trench, I need to line with non-woven landscaping fabric. We want water penetration and a woven fabric will not promote good drainage.

Also, I’m using a perforated drainpipe (video explains this better), adapter, and a pop-up cap that will allow overflow (even though I don’t anticipate it will ever be necessary).

Last, but not least, for this DIY French drain, I top the pipe with stone making sure to keep the excess fabric off to the sides to cover with later.

Here’s the view from my upstairs window after my daughter and I folded over the fabric and used large rocks to hold it in place because at the end of the day we got a good rain.

I had to take a rest and Loula agreed. It’s hard work watching me work. heh.

ONE MORE STEP

Tired yet? I am. whew!

The entire next day from 8 am till dusk, I am out there preparing for seeding.

My main tool to accomplish this is my potato hook, hose, and sweat equity. I use this hook to aerate my flower beds and garden at my old home at the start of spring every year. I used to have two but sold one when I moved. MISTAKE.

I had to mow down the existing tufts of grass, rake up the old straw, then have at it.

Not only is my backyard fun just beginning, but I have much planned inside and out rain or shine. So be sure to sign up for my FREE newsletter to join the LRL family.

What is more I want to hear from you! Have you tried a project like this? In addition, show this mama some love and inspire others by pinning and sharing to your friends and family.

More to come soon! Until next time…

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What’s better than a DIY French drain? More backyard projects for you: