When it comes to landscape design, the focus is usually on the fun stuff like dreaming up hardscaping options as well as selecting the flora and greenery. But to plan effectively for the long-term stability of your landscape, the basics must be covered first. That means evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of your lawn grading.

Lawn grading is all about the direction and flow of water. Check out these three common grading issues.

When Rainwater Ends Up In Your Basement
Rule number one when it comes to landscape grading is that your lawn should gradually slope away from your house. This slope sluices rainwater far from your basement or slab to prevent flooding as well the associated long-term destruction: Accumulated moisture can wreak havoc on structural integrity.

It’s not uncommon for basements to flood during a super heavy rainfall such as may come with a hurricane or a nor’easter, but if your basement floor becomes damp on a regular basis, bad grading could be one of the causes.

When Soggy Spots Appear On Your Lawn
Uneven landscapes can lead to low spots or bottom areas where water accumulates after a rain. Sometimes these can be eradicated with fill, but not all landscapes allow for that option. In that case, your landscape design will have to work smart and creatively. Many hardscape options are possible, or perhaps the grading issue can be solved by planting water-hungry plants that will thrive in the space.

When Gutter Spouts Go Wrong
A truncated gutter spout may direct water very close to your foundation’s walls, adding to the wet basement problem. Alternatively, the gutter spout may drain further away from the house but in an area where the water pools, making a marshy spot. Or perhaps that marshy spot is due to your neighbor’s drainage which directs, inadvertently, into your landscape. There are smart solutions to all these problems, which need to be properly addressed before planning your landscape design.

Proper landscape grading isn’t the most exciting aspect of landscape design, but done correctly it provides structural integrity for your home, hardscaping, and lawn for years to come.