To install a typical French drain design for soggy yards, you will have to install what is called a subsurface drainage system which consists of several French drains which will be able to carry water from the poorly drained areas of your yard through a collection of pipes which are linked to a runoff trench.

This French drain is usually dug in the lowest area of the yard and can be placed at the base of a slope or any area where the water is pooling in the yard. Start by digging a three foot deep trench which will carry the water away from the area of the yard that needs to be drained.

Ensure that the trench drain design has enough slope so that the water will be able to flow freely through it to the spot where it will be drained from the yard. If necessary you can dig your trenches a little deeper to ensure that it has adequate slope.

Next line the trench drain with a woven landscaping fabric in order to prevent the surrounding soil from entering the trench drain and make sure that the gravel is absorbent so that the water can flow thought it easily.

Now you will have to install a four or six inch perforated drain line at the bottom of the trench and then start backfilling the trench drain with around four inches of grave and covering it up with a drainage topsoil.

All your perforated drainpipes will have to connect to a six inch solid collection pipe that should go all the way to where your run off trench is situated which will allow the water to drain from your land.

Related Topics: Linear French Drain Systems, installing down spouts drain lines, linear french drains