Surface grading is a very important part of making sure your property can safely drain rainwater, making sure that it doesn’t pool around your home’s foundation. Improper grading leads to a higher risk of basement leaks and moisture making its way into your crawl spaces. There’s also a greater chance of water pooling in the yard, which can damage landscaping and leave behind unsightly muddy patches. Keep reading to find some ways to keep your surface grading level.

Repair Washouts Caused by Runoff

When a bad storm rolls through and dumps a heavy amount of rainfall, some of the soil in your yard may wash away, leaving behind low spots where the water collects and stands. The parts of the yard that usually wash away first are those near hillsides, downspouts, and other drainage outlets. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to tackle this problem: just fill the low spots with an extra layer of quality topsoil and be sure to compact it lightly so it blends with the rest of the yard.

Reseed Bare Patches of Grass to Reduce Erosion

The health of your grass has a significant impact on your property’s surface grading. When it has healthy, strong roots, this helps hold the soil in place, which means there’s a much lower risk of erosion. With this in mind, if you notice bare patches of grass, you need to reseed those areas and make sure they stay watered until the new grass becomes established. You may also want to top the affected areas with a thin layer of straw to help prevent the grass seed from washing away during storms.

Keep Your Yard Drainage System Clear of Blockages

Once a month and after every severe storm, check the drainage outlets to ensure they don’t have any clogs from leaves, twigs, dirt, and mulch. This applies to channel drains, catch basins, drainage swales, and downspout outlets. Even partial blockages can restrict water flow to the point that it backs up and begins washing away the surrounding soil, gradually damaging the surface grading.

Repair Ruts Made by the Lawnmower

Always do your best to mow the lawn when it’s dry. If you mow when the ground is wet, the tires can dig into the soil, leaving behind ruts and depressions that alter the surface grading. When it rains, these low spots collect rainwater, making the problem even worse. The best way to fill them in is by using topsoil or a quality lawn soil mix.

Using the tips mentioned above is an excellent way to keep your yard looking great and protect your home’s foundation. When you need land grading services in Warner Robins, GA, contact Safe Site Services.