By making the swale on contour, it ensures that the water disperses evenly across the entire area of the yard rather than drifting one way or another, causing a more saturated area. If you dig a swale that is 6 feet wide, make it 3 feet deep. However, this doesn’t mean that the drainage system has to interfere with the aesthetic arrangement of the yard. Although building a swale serves a utilitarian purpose (to direct water away from the house or a flooded area in the yard), many homeowners construct these to abide by permaculture ethics, or design principles that are based on using or simulating features directly found in nature. How to Build a Rain Garden in Your Yard Posted in Blog. A swale can also be created to re-direct water away from a landscape feature, such as a swimming pool, patio (although the patio should be sloped too), etc. Such a swale may be either natural or man-made. You can gain a Jun 23, 2020 - Explore Preston Coon's board "Drainage swale" on Pinterest. In particular, in US usage, it is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides. A swale is a shady spot, or a sunken or marshy place. See more ideas about landscape design, backyard landscaping, landscape. (See illustration below) The term "swale" is often used by Permaculture people when designing large earth work constructions but it's very rarely spoken of in an urban setting. However, these techniques can be used … Yards need to be equipped with proper drainage systems to prevent excess water from swamping the property and entering the home or crawl space. Swales are more efficient than tanks or barrels. A permaculture swale can be an important feature in the productive garden or earth-friendly yard because it helps to slow, store, and spread water. Advantages to having a Swale in your Yard. Well its commonly defined as "a water harvesting ditch on contour." >> Are you wondering what a swale is? Swales are most often discussed among permaculture people when designing large earthwork constructions – not something you would find in most people’s backyards. Obviously, it's easier to create a swale before you seed or sod your yard, but if necessary, you can cut out the grass with a sod cutter and replace it when you're done regrading. Sometimes the drainage swale is first lined with gravel … Written by NativeAccess on December 1, 2015. If a drainage swale is shallow, or even if it’s deeper but broad at the bottom, it can function well as a walkway during dry weather, and thus swale landscaping is often aimed at serving this purpose. Swales are way easier than catching rain in a tank or barrel. Drainage is an essential component of a house. A simple swale is an effective and subtle way to control surface water. So if you want to dig a 2-foot wide swale for your yard, dig it 1 foot deep, on contour, with the berm on the downhill side. Artificial swales are often infiltration basins, designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration. Generally speaking, a swale is twice as wide as it is deep. A swale is created when there is not enough pitch. In the US, swales are shallow channels often covered with grass to look like a continuation of the house lawn. Imagine it as a long wide cup rather than a gutter or drain. Swales build self-sustaining ecosystems. It prevents flooding, which can cause significant damage to your property. You can avoid flooding with different solutions for your yard, and a drainage swale is one of them.. As with general grading, a swale should be sloped at 2%. Grading of the swale and re-grading of the adjacent areas occurs. What is a swale anyway? Swale Yard Drainage Los Angeles Yard Drainage. Swales mitigate stormwater runoff. 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