Finishing Off Drainage Path

[JDGreenGrass]

I have a gravel driveway and I have dug a "ditch" along the side of it to help with drainage and to keep the water of the drive.

Now that the drainage path is sloped leading to a "bowl" I would like to finish it off at grade so that I can mow over it.

Can I simply fill it with gravel and put a layer of loam over the top.?? Or use crushed stone and then finish it with loam.

I used to get standing water at the corner of my driveway. Now I've got it sloped and running along the side of the drive which leads to a
holding pool, or bowl.

How do I go about finishing it off.??

 

[20 20]

do you have any pictures? I run a line for a drain and filled it with big rocks then a layer of smaller then a layer of dirt over that, it seems to do just fine. I know it has water in it constantly because it is for my water softner{didn't want that going into the septic.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

20 20....

That sounds like what I have in mind.

I just don't want the rocks heaving up if I can help it.

Do you have any problems with that.??

 

[SPIKER]

might think about a small water containment pond to add some allure to the area? otherwise maybe just some sand & stone without plantings to maintain good drainage and evaporation when it rains hard. filling in the low spot with dirt will only make the water flow to the next lowest spot.
putting in a French drain (deeper hole filled with larger stone/rock and topped with some fabric & sand then dirt/grass can help tough as well.

I would opt for a water feature myself just for the fun of it.
mark

 

[dave1949]

Hard to have an idea with no picture. If the slope is gentle enough, why not just get some hardy grasses growing in the drainage? You may have to skip mowing it in the Spring for a while, but so what?

Also might consider the terrace approach like they use along the turnpike. Fairly low slope stretch, then a band of rocks across the swale that drains onto the next low slope run, and so forth down the hill. Of course you can't mow over the rocks, that would be weed whipper territory.

Unless you are draining considerable water, the bowl or small pond will get stagnant and breed mosquitoes. The peepers are nice hear in the Spring, but they never eat all the mosquito larvae.

Dave.

 

[20 20]

20 20....

That sounds like what I have in mind.

I just don't want the rocks heaving up if I can help it.

Do you have any problems with that.??

So far none yet.

Another setup that may work if your trying to hide and make this area level would be an enviro-chamber. try a search on the net it should come up as a chamber for leach fields. I've also used this, for a leach field and it is GREAT stuff. Easy to work with and depending on which size you go with they are able to contain a lot of water. Seems like you could set them then fill in around and be done????

 

[20 20]

I also know of folks that have made a leach system{for water and septic} with old plastic 55gal drums. They hold the water when needed then perk it of when possible.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I am on the right track. This drain path is relatively small, maybe 30 or 35 feet long and shallow. Before I dug the sloped "ditch" I would have standing water there from time to time after a rain and more standing water in the spring.

Now that the ditch is dug I have put back most of the rock that came out. I am simply going to put gravel into the ditch and let it be 'til spring when I will finish it off and plant grass over it. It's hard pack under there so I think the water will run down the slope(ditch) and end up at the "bowl" area where I hope the dog will find nice clean water to play in come spring.

I like standing water around my yard so long as it's in the right places.

I only have 2 acres so my projects are relatively small and in-expensive. But, I do enjoy the work and having the tractor spurs my thoughts to improve any and every little thing that needs improvement. My yard is going to be very well groomed and I love that.!!

I should add that this will be my first winter with the tractor and I am planning on having a large snowpile right on top of the bowl area of my drainage ditch. Sometimes gotta plan ahead for these Maine winters. You never know how deep it's going to get.

 

[20 20]

I try to push all my snow into my ponds. Then when{if } springs comes the snow melts and is right were it belongs.

 

[uniongoon]

type in "french drain" on your google search or whatever search engine you use. Clear 3/4 stone, a layer of landscape fabric and 3-4 inches of topsoil then plant your grass.