Moni, I'm glad the rain fell just in the nick of time so you wouldn't have to use the last of your rainbarrel water. We are still waiting for rain here, but it has begun falling in the westernmost portion of our county, so I'm hopeful it will get here eventually. Be sure to let us know how your French drain performs.

Dawn

I'd love to hear ALL about your French drain as I need to do something along those lines. Several somethings along those lines...

Diane

I had no real idea, on how I was going to start it up. and, the worst, I didn't take pictures!!!

But, I dug a trench. At the top of the hill, where the water comes from the drive way and the other downspout (no rain barrel there yet) I dug a hole.

I knew, you could buy a "box" to bury and hook to a drain pipe, but I am cheap. LOL. I used a black pot a tree came in. Set it in to see for fit, and then cut a hole near the top for the drain pipe.

Fitted the drain pipe, and buried the drain pipe. The pipe I purchased did not have holes in it, but I put some along the bottom of the pipe. I mainly want to drain the water off. I am not that concerned with dispersing it along the way.

I didn't fill the trench back up all the way, as I have a lot of rocks I thought I could put over it, to make somewhat of a dry creek. Also thought, this would be a place for more water to go, when it really poured, and wouldn't drain down to the pipe.

I put some big chunks of concrete in the pot. Had those pieces here on this property when we bought it. Then, across the top I wish I had a grate that fits, but just put some landscape fabric and some bigger rocks that would hide it. I also used landscape fabric in the partially refilled trench, to keep the rocks from disappearing.

Well, it worked. It drained it off. I guess, I need to get with it, and dig the rest of the trench and bury the rest of the pipe.

Prior to all this, I talked with the neighbor below, and conferred with her on where to let this water drain to her property. As of right now, it all drains to one end of her property, and her french drain can't handle it all. We are draining it at the other end, and she will deal with it, if it doesn't work for her.

Yeah, now, maybe my hill won't continue to wash down to her back yard.

I sure wish, I had taken photos. Will take one of what it looks like right now, in the raw, and later, when it is finished and planted nearby.

My goal is to have a rain barrel at each drain pipe. Till now, I had just two at the lower extensions that came from under the deck. I would pump this water up to the deck level in to a garbage can on wheels, and pull that around the house to water stuff with my watering can.

I want to hook hoses to my barrels, to connect to my soaker hoses.

Overall, I want to cut down on the amount of water going to waste, and the amount of $ I pay to water from the faucet.

Moni

uploaded the pictures I took today

Here is a link that might be useful: Moni's French drain project

Thanks for posting the pics and info, Moni! You have my mind churning now...

Diane

Diane, I put a drain pipe underground at the last house. I just hated, the way the back yard would be under water, and diverted the drain water along the side of the house, and had it come out in the front. Put a big rock at the end, to keep people from stepping on/in it.

It worked great, and the back yard only had a puddle when it rained a WHOLE lot.

Thus, I had encouragement/experience.

Only this time, there is the slope to conquer. :)

Got to get.... will have company for a week. Hopefully, my son in law will help me set the other barrels up.

Moni