Inspiring Ideas, Expert Tips, and Proven Solutions for Your Outdoor Spaces

Both French drains and dry creek beds work great to move water away from your home. French drains work underground to catch hidden water. Dry creek beds sit on top of the ground and look like a pretty stream. The best choice depends on where your water problem is and what you want your yard to look like.

No, flower beds do not require edging to grow plants, but edging prevents grass invasion, reduces maintenance time, and creates visual definition between lawn and garden spaces. Grass roots spread through underground rhizomes and above-ground stolons. Without barriers, grass steals nutrients and water from flowers.

To make your backyard look professionally landscaped, start by defining clear edges for lawns and garden beds, since clean lines create structure. Add layers with shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers for depth. Use mulch for a polished finish and proper moisture control. Finally, balance plants with hardscape elements like pathways or lighting to tie the space together.

The best plants for erosion control on sloped yards are groundcovers, deep-rooted grasses, and hardy shrubs. Creeping juniper, pachysandra, and vinca minor spread quickly to hold soil. Native grasses like switchgrass and fescue stabilize slopes with deep roots. Shrubs such as forsythia or cotoneaster add structure while preventing runoff.

#57 crushed stone is the best gravel for most drainage projects. This gravel measures ½ inch to 1 inch and provides excellent water flow with good stability. Pea gravel works well for lighter drainage needs around homes.

A rain garden is a shallow depression planted with native vegetation that captures and filters stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and lawns. Rain gardens solve drainage problems by temporarily storing water and allowing slow infiltration into soil rather than creating surface runoff. Rain gardens absorb 30% more water than conventional grass lawns. These landscaping features filter up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals from stormwater while reducing flooding and erosion in residential properties. The system works by collecting rainwater in engineered depressions where plant roots and specially prepared soil remove pollutants before water reaches groundwater supplies.