Installing time tested garden drainage solutions that will stop rainwater flooding your garden, drain your garden to solve waterlogged lawn and soggy muddy garden drainage problems even on clay soil.
About us. We are garden and lawn drainage contractors specialising in draining domestic gardens, solving waterlogging, soggy lawns, boggy soil and surface water problems with solutions that work, even on clay soil. In most cases without major hard landscaping or raising garden surfaces.
We have not suddenly appeared as a reaction to recent flooding of the Somerset levels and Thames valley or recent record rainfall, we have been installing French drains for many years, both as a necessity and for the past 10 years as a business. We know what we are doing, we can fix it.
What causes water logging and surface water puddling problems?
There are several causes for poorly or slow draining spongy soil. It is a common problem, not just for homes and gardens built on low lying land, floodplain, clay or compacted soil.
Structures you or your neighbour have added, like retaining walls, footings for extensions and swimming pools can all divert surface rain water and underground springs, causing water logging. Probably one of the worst culprits are the old-fashioned non-permeable patios and driveways constructed using printed concrete. In most cases they are not permeable, so shift the water to some where else. Runoff from neighbours.
What can I do with my flooded garden?
A lot of time and money can be spent trying to trace the source of the problem, leading to disputes with neighbours, surveyors, the builder who built the extension the landscaper who installed your patio and retaining wall, without considering the effect on garden drainage. The only way to fix it, is to drain the water away from your lawn and garden.
How to drain a garden.
This is the system we recommend and install on waterlogged clay based soil.
Based on French drains, its installed under the existing turf or garden topsoil and solves water logging and other garden drainage problems, its easily the best drainage system for clay gardens. The drainage system takes about four days to install and the garden starts to drain immediately. Why put up with a lawn the kids can't play on and mud you can't plant in. The problem won't just go away.
Herringbone French drainage system.
If lawns are waterlogged over the whole area, a French drain installed in a Herringbone pattern is your best bet.
This is how we install French drains
Mark out and dig the main trench from the highest part of the lawn, to the lowest part.
Connect to a Soak away, Sump, or Surface water drain.
Then mark and dig out the side trenches to connect to the main drain, forming a herringbone pattern.
The side drains join the main drain at a 45 degrees angle and are spaced at 10 ft intervals for clay soil and 25 ft intervals for loamy soil.
Fill the drains with wrapped gravel. I/e line the trench with heavy duty landscape fabric, for sale in the drainage shop. This keeps earth out of the gravel and allows water to percolate freely through the gravel. Next shovel coarse gravel onto the landscape fabric, leaving a 3 or 4 inch space, and wrap the fabric over the top of the gravel.
Next loosely shovel three or four inches of clay free topsoil back into the trenches, slightly overfilling to allow for settling and making sure not to compact the soil.
Ever since the Romans used gravel drains to solve drainage problems, not much has changed. Perforated plastic pipes (holes at the top or bottom, depends on who you ask ) came and went, French drains still work. Why are they are called French drains? Although stone drains date back to the Ark, they are actually named after an American, Henry French a 19th-century judge, gardener and farmer.
Draining the water away.
Soak away or Sump or Drain?
At the lowest end of the main trench dig out a soak away at least four feet deep filled with chunky gravel or clean rubble and link the main French drain to the soak away. Soakaways may not work in clay soils, more about this later.
After installing French drains it's important to spread grit sand over the lawn and aerate the surface.
Aerating the whole area, including over the trenches, ensures surface water drains from the surface into the soil and drainage system.
Before laying new turf, spread grit sand over the whole area to be turfed, including the French drain trenches, and aerate the surface,
In most cases laying a new turf lawn over the completed drainage system won't be necessary, the grass will recover and the trenches can be seeded over, again, it is important to spread grit sand over the whole lawn. Leave the tips of the grass showing and aerate. Hard work, but you will end up with a level well drained lawn that's nice to walk on.
See the lawn care tips on the lawn care page. I can sometimes offer a lawn turfing service in all areas of Southern England, where we have installed land drainage systems.
Do not connect into the Foul drainage system:
this is the drainage system that removes the waste from the toilet, bath, sinks, washing machines, dishwashers and showers and you will need permission from the local council.
You can connect into the surface water drainage:
This is the drainage system that deals with rainfall from your gutters, etc. Some water boards require you to ask for permission.
In gardens that slope away from the house, it may not be possible to connect the gravel drains directly into the surface water drainage system and the rain water may need to be drained into a sump and pumped. I have included some basic information on the drainage sump and pumps page. Also some other drainage systems you may want to consider.
Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, Midlands, South Wales, West London, North and Central London, Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Dorset.
The average cost of French drain installation in the UK is £4180.
Home visits to consult and prepare a quote cost £200 (refundable)
Happy customer
Hi Mike,
I just wanted to get in touch to let you know that despite the dire weather we've had since you installed drainage for us back in April, it has been working fantastically. We are so pleased - it has worked even better than we hoped it would. We no longer have to wear wellies and run the risk of sinking in a bog every time we venture outside! With any luck we may even get some summer soon and be able to actually sit out there! The other thing is we found a steel flask in the garden that one of you left - I washed it out and put it to one side to post but forgot - have just rediscovered it! Do you want me to post it back to you, or are you back in Cardiff anytime to pop in and collect it? Let me know what's best. Thanks once again. We will gladly recommend you to anyone needing drainage work done in future.
Louise Name and address supplied.
The following D.I.Y information has been moved to my
Alternatively purchase my simple to follow D.I.Y. guide to installing basic garden drainage, for only £10.00. This includes five minutes free telephone support and can be found on this page Diy garden drainage
The guide will be useful to both D.I.Y home owners and landscape contractors wishing to install land drainage. It is an easy to follow guide that includes, telephone back-up, marking out, materials and a formula to calculate the gravel to fill the trenches.
The drainage guide costs £10.00 and can be purchased here.
These are the towns and counties we install garden drainage in the UK, Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Dorset, London, Surrey, Gloucester, West Midlands and South Wales.
Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and South Wales.
Margam, Merthyr Tydfil,Mitchel Troy,Monkswood,Monmouth,Morriston,Mountain Ash,Mumbles,Nantyglo,Neath,Nelson,New Inn
New Tredegar,Newar,Newbridge,Newport,Oakdale,Oxwich,Oxwich Bay,Parkmill,Pen Y Cae,Penallt,Penarth,Pencoed
Penderyn,Penlan,Penmark,Pentre,Penycae,Pontardawe,Pontarddulais,Pontlanfraith,Pontllanfraith,Pontlliw,Pontnewydd
Pontyates,Pontyclun,Pontypool,Pontypridd,Port Einon,Port Talbot,Porth,Porthcawl,Pyle,Raglan,Rassau,Reynoldston
Rhandirmwyn,Rhoose,Rhossili,Rhymney,Rogerstone,Sedbury,Shirenewton,Skenfrith,Skewen,Southgate,St Athan,St Brides Major
St Hilary,Sully,Swansea,Talbot Green,Talgarth,Talywain,Three Crosses,Tintern,Tonypandy,Treboeth,Tredegar,Tredunnock
Treharris,Trelleck,Treorchy,Tutshill,Upper Killay,Usk,Waunarlwydd,Wenvoe,Whitebrook,Wick,Wyllie,Ystalyfera,Ystradgynlais
Abercraf, Aberdare, Abergavenny, Abersychan, Abertillery, Aberystwyth, Bargoed, Barry, Beaufort, Bettws Newydd, Birchgrove, Bishopton, Blackwood, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Blaenavon, Brecon, Bridgend, Brithdir
Briton Ferry, Bryncoch, Brynhyfryd, Brynmawr, Bwlch, Cadoxton, Caerleon, Caerphilly, Caerwent, Caldicot
Cardiff, Chepstow, Clydach, Cockett, Coed Eva, Cowbridge, Craig Defn Parc, Creigiau, Crickhowell, Cross Keys, Cwmavon, Cwmbran, Cwmcarn, Cwmdu, Dinas Powys, Dingestow, Dyffryn Cellwen, East Aberthaw
Ebbw Vale, Ewenny, Ferndale, Glais, Glynneath, Gorseinon, Gowerton, Grosmont, Hengoed, Henllys
Hensol, Hirwaun, Hollybush, Kenfig, Killay, Laleston, Lavernock, Llancadle, Llandenny, Llandough
Llandovery, Llanelli, Llanelly Hill, Llangennech, Llangennith, Llangybi, Llannon, Llansamlet, Llantrisant
Llantwit Major, Llanwern, Llanwrda, Lower Cwmtwrch, Maesteg, Magor, Manmoel
Somerset
Ashcott , Axbridge | Backwell ,Bath, Brent Knoll ,Bridgwater | Bruton , Burnham-on-Sea ,| Castle Cary | Chard | Cheddar | Churchill | Clevedon, Congresbury , Crewkerne, Dunster | Farrington Gurney | Faulkland | Frome | Glastonbury | Highbridge, Ilchester | Ilminster | Keynsham | Langport | Long Ashton | Lympsham | Martock |,Midsomer Norton | Minehead |Porlock | Radstock | Shepton Mallet | Somerton | Street | Taunton | Wedmore | Wellington, Wells | West Camel | Wincanton | Winscombe | Winsford | Wookey | Woolverton | Worle,Yeovil | Berkeley, Bristol | Chipping Sodbury | Clevedon | Clifton | Flax Bourton | Henbury | Keynsham | Lawrence Weston | Long Ashton | Nailsea | Old Sodbury | Paulton | Portishead | Saltford | Severn Beach | Shirehampton | Stoke Gifford |Thornbury | Westbury Park | Westbury-on-Trym | Weston-super-Mare .Westonzoyland| Winterbourne | Wotton-under-Edge |Wrington | Yate | Yatton .Chippenham |Corsham,|Devizes |Limpley Stoke | Malmesbury | Marlborough | Melksham | Salisbury | Swindon |Trowbridge | Upavon | Warminster |Westbury | Wootton Bassett, | Basingstoke, Bracknell | Hungerford | Newbury |Reading | Bridport |Christchurch | Dorchester | Lyme Regis | Poole |Shaftesbury | Sherborne | Weymouth |Exeter | Tiverton .Almondsbury |Cheltenham | Cirencester | Dursley | Gloucester | Moreton-in-Marsh | Nailsworth | Painswick | Stow-on-the-Wold | Stroud | Tetbury | Tewkesbury.North Somerset,
SW and W London
SW1Westminster, Belgravia, Pimlico, Brixton, Streatham Hill, SW3Chelsea,Brompton ,SW4 Clapham, SW5 Earl's Court, SW6 Fulham,Parson's Green, SW7 Knightsbridge,South Kensington, SW8 Nine Elms,South Lambeth, Vauxhall, SW9 Stockwell, Brixton, SW10 West Brompton,Brompton, SW11 Battersea,Clapham Junction, SW12 Balham ,SW13 Barnes,SW14Mortlake,East Sheen, SW15 Putney,Roehampton, SW16 Streatham,Norbury, SW17 Tooting ,SW19 Wimbledon,Merton, Collier's Wood ,SW20 West Wimbledon,Raynes Park, Cottenham Park, South Wimbledon, W2 Paddington, Bayswater, W3 Acton, W4 Chiswick, W5 Ealing, W6 Hammersmith, W7 Hanwell W8 Kensington,Kensington, W9 Maida Vale,Warwick Avenue, Maida Hill, W10North Kensington,Ladbroke Grove, W11 Notting Hill,Holland Park ,W12 Shepherd's Bush, W13 West Ealing, W14 West Kensington,
North London
N1 - Islington N2 - East Finchley N3 - Finchley Central, Finchley Church End N7 - Holloway N10 - Muswell Hill N11 - New Southgate N12 - North Finchley, Woodside Park N13 - Palmers Green N14 - Southgate N16 - Stoke Newington N17 - Tottenham, Haringey N18 - Upper Edmonton N20 - Whetstone,Totteridge N21 - Winchmore Hill N22 - Wood Green, Alexandra Palace
EN1 - Enfield EN2 - Bush Hill Park EN3 - Enfield Lock EN4 - Hadley Wood, Cockfosters EN5 - Barnet EN6 - Potters Bar EN7 - Cuffley, Goffs Oak EN8 - Waltham Cross, Cheshunt EN9 - Waltham Abbey
East London
E17 - Walthamstow E4 - Woodford, chingford
Surrey.
Abinger Hammer | Addlestone | Alfold | Ashford | Badshot Lea | Banstead | Belmont | Blackbrook | Blackwater | Bookham | Brook | Bucks Horn Oak | Capel | Caterham | Cheam | Chessington | Chipstead | Churt | Cobham | Compton | Countywide | Crondall | Dockenfield | Downside | East Horsley | Effingham | Elstead | Enton Green | Esher | Ewhurst | Farnham | Fetcham | Frimley | Gatwick Airport | Godstone | Guildford | Hampton | Hampton Wick | Haslemere | Hindhead | Horley | Hurstpierpoint | Kingston upon Thames | Knaphill | Leigh | Lingfield | Long Ditton | Mayford | Milford | Morden | New Addington | Newdigate | Ockley | Oxshott | Peaslake | Pirbright | Purley | Redhill | Richmond Upon Thames | Ripley | Sanderstead | Shamley Green | Shere | Staines | Sunningdale | Sutton | Tadworth | Teddington | Thornton Heath | Tolworth | Virginia Water | Walliswood | Walton-on-Thames | Warlingham | West End | West Molesey | Westhumble | Windlesham | Witley | Woldingham | Worplesdon | Wrecclesham.
Dorset
Beaminster | Bishops Caundle | Boscombe | Bridport | Broadstone | Buckhorn Weston | Burton Bradstock | Charlton Marshall | Charmouth | Child Okeford | Church Knowle | Corfe Mullen | Countywide | Donhead St Andrew | Dorchester | East Knighton | East Morden | Evershot | Ferndown | Fontmell Magna | Godmanstone | Halstock | Hinton St Mary | Hurn | Iwerne Minster | Langton Herring | Loders | Lulworth Cove | Lytchett Minster | Marshwood | Martinstown | Milborne Port | Moreton | Nettlecombe | Organford | Osmington Mills | Piddlehinton | Poole | Poundbury | Preston | Puncknowle | Sandbanks | Shapwick | Sherbourne | Shroton | Southbourne | St. Leonards-On-Sea | Stoborough | Stourton Caundle | Studland | Sturminster Newton | Sydling St Nicholas | Tarrant Monkton | Tolpuddle | Upton | Verwood | Wareham | Waytown | West Knighton | West Parley | West Stour | Wimborne|
Hampshire
Alresford | Ampfield | Barton Stacey | Basingstoke | Beaulieu | Bentworth | Bordon | Bramdean | Bransgore | Broughton | Buriton | Burley | Chalton | Charter Alley | Cheriton | Countywide | Crondall | Denmead | Dogmersfield | Dummer | East End | East Tytherley | Eastleigh | Emsworth | Faccombe | Fareham | Fleet | Fritham | Gosport | Hambledon | Havant | Hayling Island | Highfield | Hook | Horsebridge | Itchen Abbas | Kingsley | Leckford | Linwood | Liss | Lymington | Mapledurwell | Meonstoke | Milford on Sea | New Alresford | Newtown | Northington | Old Basing | Overton | Ower | Owslesbury | Pilley | Portchester | Preston Candover | Romsey | Rowlands Castle | Setley | Shedfield | Sopley | Southsea | Sparsholt | Stockbridge | Stuckton | Tadley | Tichborne | Titchfield | Twyford | Upper Froyle | Warsash | Well | Wherwell | Whitsbury | Winchester | Wolverton | Yateley |
Berkshire
Aldworth | Ascot | Beedon | Boxford | Bray | Burchetts Green | Burghfield | Caversham | Charvil | Chieveley | Cold Ash | Cookham | Countywide | Crazies Hill | Curridge | Donnington | Earley | East Ilsley | Emmbrook | Englefield Green | Eton Wick | Fifield | Frilsham | Goring On Thames | Grazeley | Hare Hatch | Hermitage | Holyport | Hurley | Inkpen | Kintbury | Lambourn | Littlewick Green | Maiden's Green | Mapledurham | Mortimer | Newbury | Padworth | Pangbourne | Playhatch | Riseley | Sandhurst | Sindlesham | Sonning Common | Sonning-on-Thames | Stanford Dingley | Stratfield Mortimer | Sunningdale | Swallowfield | Thatcham | Tidmarsh | Toddington | Upton | Warfield | Water Oakley | Whitchurch Hill | White Waltham | Winkfield | Winterbourne | Woodcote | Woodspeen | Woolton Hill | Yattendon |
Wiltshire.
Alderbury | Amesbury | Avebury | Barford St Martin | Beckhampton | Bishops Cannings | Box | Bradford-on-Avon | Brinkworth | Broad Chalke | Broughton Gifford | Burton | Castle Combe | Charlton | Chilmark | Chiseldon | Colerne | Compton Bassett | Corsley | Countywide | Crockerton | Devizes | Dyrham | Ebbesbourne Wake | Farley | Ford | Gastard | Great Cheverell | Great Hinton | Hannington | Highworth | Horningsham | Kingsdown | Lacock | Leigh Delamere | Little Cheverell | Lower Woodford | Ludwell | Malmesbury | Marlborough | Melksham | Mere | Monkton Farleigh | Nomansland | Nunton | Ogbourne St George | Pewsey | Purton | Redlynch | Salisbury | Shaw | Shrewton | Steeple Ashton | Stourhead | Swindon | Tilshead | Tollard Royal | Upavon | Upton Scudamore | Warminster | West Overton | Whitley | Winterbourne Bassett | Wootton Bassett | Wroughton |
Devon
Ashburton | Ashwater | Axminster | Babbacombe | Bantham | Barnstaple | Beer | Bere Ferrers | Bickington | Bideford | Blackawton | Bradninch | Branscombe | Braunton | Bridestowe | Bridgerule | Brixton | Broadhembury | Broadwoodwidger | Buckland Brewer | Budleigh Salterton | Burlescombe | Butterleigh | Chagford | Chapmans Well | Cheriton Bishop | Christow | Chudleigh Knighton | Churston | Clayhidon | Clovelly | Clyst St Mary | Cockwood | Coleford | Combe Martin | Countywide | Crockernwell | Croyde Bay | Culmhead | Dalwood | Dartmouth | Dawlish Warren | Diptford | Doddiscombsleigh | Down St Mary | Dunchideock | East Anstey | Eggesford | Exbourne | Exminster | Exton | Feniton | Georgeham | Gulworthy | Harberton | Hatherleigh | Hele | High Bickington | Holbeton | Holsworthy | Hope Cove | Horrabridge | Ide | Ilsington | Ipplepen | Kenn | Kentisbeare | Kenton | Kingskerswell | Kingston | Knowle | Ladram Bay | Lewdown | Littleham | Lower Ashton | Luton | Lympstone | Lynton | Manaton | Martinhoe | Milton Abbot | Molland | Mortehoe | Newton Poppleford | North Bovey | North Tawton | Noss Mayo | Otterton | Paignton | Parracombe | Plymouth | Plymtree | Princetown | Rattery | Salcombe | Sampford Peverell | Sandyway | Seaton | Sheepwash | Sidbury | Sidmouth | Slapton | Sourton Cross | South Molton | South Zeal | Spreyton | Staverton | Stockland | Stoke Fleming | Stokenham | Tavistock | Teignmouth | Thurlestone | Topsham | Torcross | Torrington | Tuckenhay | Tytherleigh | Ugborough | Virginstow | Wembworthy | West Down |
Birmingham and the West Midlands,
Acock's Green B27 Aldridge WS9 Berkswell CV7 Bilston WV14 Birmingham B1 Birmingham B3 Birmingham B2 Birmingham B5 Birmingham B4 Blackheath B65 Bloxwich WS3 Brierley Hill DY5 Brownhills WS8 Castle Bromwich B36 Chapel End CV10 Coventry CV1 Cradley B63 Darlaston WS10 Edgbaston B15 Erdington B24 Great Barr B43 Great Heath CV6 Halesowen B63 Hall Green B28 Hampton in Arden B92 Handsworth B21 Harborne B17 Keresley CV6 King's Heath B14 King's Norton B38 Kingstanding B44 Kingswinford DY6 Knowle B93 Lye DY9 Marston Green B37 Meriden CV7 Northfield B31 Pelsall WS3 Perry Barr B42 Rubery B45 Sedgley DY3 Selly Oak B29 Sheldon B26 Shirley B90 Smethwick B66 Solihull B91 Stourbridge DY8 Sutton Coldfield B74 Tipton DY4 Walmley B76 Walsall WS1 Wednesbury WS10 West Bromwich B70 Willenhall WV13 Wolston CV8