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Plants and delaying groundwater.
NorthernJoe
Posts: 660
in Plants
Are there plants that are better at delaying groundwater or rainfall run off? Steep garden above limestone base rock that's possibly not too far below the soil in places. Or so I've been told by neighbours. I don't think the soil is that high in pH because it has got a lot of variety in the garden, I think some don't like alkali too.
There's space for trees, shrubs and ground cover plants. I'd prefer no more trees or at least nothing that grows too high or wide or gives you too much shade. We've bit enough shady bits would be nice to have sunny spots too.
Anyone got planting ideas? We're looking at more landscaping solutions too like French drains or even berms. This is planting to help out a bit, if that's achievable.
There's space for trees, shrubs and ground cover plants. I'd prefer no more trees or at least nothing that grows too high or wide or gives you too much shade. We've bit enough shady bits would be nice to have sunny spots too.
Anyone got planting ideas? We're looking at more landscaping solutions too like French drains or even berms. This is planting to help out a bit, if that's achievable.
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If you plant a shrub on a slight ridge of rocks and soil, you create a shallow dish above it. Water running down the slope will pool in the dish, and it will soak down into the ground around the shrub's roots, rather than running off the surface. Plants with woody stems break up the surface, which lets the water soak down more readily. The deeper the roots go, the stronger that effect, which is presumably why trees are good at it.
Hedge banks, even shallow ones, are quite effective at slowing run off and reducing hill wash
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I suggest you get professional advice … this doesn’t sound like a DIY task. Have you checked to see if your buildings insurance covers such problems?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Or you've bust a pipe 😬
Water table? Possible but we are higher than houses over the road and I know at least one had a apace under the house that in really wet conditions had standing water in it. That was likely water table level and unlikely to rise several metres. Especially since the flooded house I know about stopped getting it 5 years at least before the owner moved out and that at least 5 years ago so 9 years since water table was several metres lower.
Of course water table can follow slope in circumstances it really shouldn't be the issue.
Artesian spring? Old maps pre 70s when these 8 houses were built show nothing like a spring historically in this area.
Bubbling up doesn't need pressure just a flow. This happens with surface run off and groundwater I reckon. Can't see water flowing anywhere that could lead into the garage. I need to investigate the drain between the patio and the house. It could be leaking into the house. There's a breeze block wall to the hill side of the garage. Behind it I expect a slope of concrete. If its leaking through from the drain onto this surface then under the wall to bubble up from under concrete flags we have freezer, dryer, shelves, etc on. There's an undercroft the other side of the house separated by another breeze block wall at the end of the garage. This goes full depth of the house from front wall to back. The back wall is basically a concrete slope to the underside of the floor above. This is dry but in reckon the hidden part under the house at the garage side should be similar.
This is seriously only an issue when the heavens open. The sort of rainfall that happens maybe twice a year. If you are out in it when it starts you get wet through in seconds it's that heavy. In those cases it's spells of very heavy then a little respite. Slowing water running down the hill can only help which is what I'm looking at. Not a solution by itself just another piece in the solution. Planting, garden landscaping and a drainage option. Tanking out is possibly going to send the problem elsewhere.
Is there anywhere you can get to see local drainage system in a plan? Would that show house drainage points? Points where run off enters the drainage system? I need to identify where one drain goes. I've not been able to identify the flow direction.
We read that ferns hold water, more than other ground cover plants, is that right? Tres, shrubs and ferns. Might make a decent show, any suggestions?
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
It might be worth checking what kind of rain water drains you have and if soak away, where they are trying to soak away to.