Drainage Solutions
Standing water is hard on lawns, foundations, and hardscape. We design and install drainage that carries water safely away, along with irrigation that keeps plantings properly watered.
Certified Drainage Services
Standing water is a grading and drainage problem long before it becomes a lawn problem. We study how water moves across your property, from downspouts and swales to low corners and slow-draining clay, then install a system that collects it and carries it to a suitable outlet. Pipe, catch basins, and dry wells are chosen for the specific problem, and any disturbed lawn and beds are restored afterward.
- An on-site assessment of grading and water flow, ideally in wet weather
- A drainage plan matched to the volume of water, the soil, and the available outlets
- Installation of drain pipe, catch basins, or dry wells
- Downspouts connected and outlets placed
- Regrading where reshaping the ground is the better solution
- Lawn and beds restored after trenching
- A walk-through of cleanout points and maintenance access
Why is water pooling in my yard?
Usually it is a combination of flat or reversed grading, compacted clay, and downspouts emptying into the low spot. Clay soil in the western suburbs drains slowly, so even small grading issues can hold water for days. We trace the path the water actually takes before recommending a solution.
Will this fix water in my basement?
Moving surface water away from the foundation often helps considerably. Basement moisture can also come from foundation cracks, interior drainage, or groundwater that cannot be seen from the yard, and we'll tell you plainly whether exterior drainage is likely to solve it.
Where does the water go?
To a proper outlet, such as a lower part of the yard, a dry well sized for your soil, or an approved connection where required. We never direct water onto a neighbor's property.
Will there be open trenches for long?
Trenches are dug, the pipe is laid, and the ground is backfilled as each section is completed. Restoration follows, and we'll let you know how long the lawn should take to knit back together.
Irrigation Solutions
A good irrigation system waters the roots and little else. We install new systems, repair leaks and clogged heads, and adjust existing zones for even coverage, with controllers set to the season and the plantings. With the hard freezes here, spring startup and fall winterization are essential. Careful adjustment matters as much as the equipment, since a system that waters the driveway at noon is only wasting water.
- Coverage checks and head adjustments for even watering
- Zone design and installation for new or expanded systems
- Controller programming for the season, soil, and plantings
- Repair of leaks, broken pipes, stuck valves, and clogged nozzles
- Spring startup with leak and coverage checks
- Fall winterization to protect lines and heads
- Separate run times for sunny and shaded zones
How much should I be watering?
For most lawns, deep and infrequent watering is better than short daily cycles. Longer cycles encourage deep roots, while constant light watering keeps roots shallow and invites disease. We set run times for your system, your soil, and the conditions.
Why is one area always dry?
Usually a head is misaligned, clogged, or spaced too far from its neighbors, or the water pressure is low. A single faulty head can leave a brown arc that looks like a soil problem but is really an equipment problem.
Is winterization really necessary?
In this climate, yes. Water left in the lines expands as it freezes and cracks pipes and fittings. Winterizing costs far less than repairing that damage in spring, and we schedule it before the first hard freeze.
Can you work with my existing controller and zones?
Usually. Many problems that seem to call for a new system turn out to be a programming issue, a clogged filter, or a single faulty valve. We diagnose the system before recommending any new equipment.