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Buffalo, new York, USA

Did a site search and found little info. Situation... I am a second year grower and although my results are minimal.. I'm learning alot from you guys and gals.My patch is in a lower section of my yard and is constantly wet. I've be contemplating puting a french drain network directly into the patch. I have a yet lower area to drain it too.
Any thoughts or experiences?

8/20/2008 8:32:07 PM

Johnstown, Ohio

All I can say is I plan to do the same thing next year. My plan is to place the drain at the edges of the patch and crown the patch as well. I am also having the local farmer sub-soil the patc hto break up the deep clay layer...hopefully that helps too. Good luck!

8/20/2008 10:46:16 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Easiest way to make a french drain is to dig a sloped trench about 6-8" wide 4-6" deep and fill it with 3/4" stone and cover with landscape fabric and then cover it with the original dirt. Water will always find the path of least resistance and it builds up 0.67 pounds of pressure for every foot of vertical fall so it should drain easily. The more runs of stone you put in the quicker it drains obviously. Good luck.

Kirk

8/21/2008 5:31:09 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I would try to get the rock as deep as possible. The deeper the rock is, the farther it will dry out the wet soil. Maybe a cheaper solution would be to get some 3" or 4" perforated plastic tile and lay that in a trench. If you have sandy soil, you will have to get the tile with a sand sock on it. Make sure you don't get the solid or non-perforated tile. You can dig it by hand with a sharpshooter tile spade or trench it in with a ditch witch. Just keep a constant grade away from your garden.

8/21/2008 1:10:05 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I would rent a track-hoe and put in 4" drainage pipe to the lower spot you say you have in your yard. I put in a drainage system in my patch a few years ago and drained the whole back yard to the ditch along the road. it has made a big difference in my patch. Also if you can, bring in some dirt afterwards and make a huge raised bed. I did this also...

8/21/2008 5:33:16 PM

Buffalo, new York, USA

Thanks for your insights.

8/22/2008 11:38:46 AM