3 Tips for Better Landscape Drainage
Outdoor drainage is the number one major issue we see in Minneapolis landscapes. Aesthetics and added function like patios and better designed plant spaces are crucial but handling the water and stopping it from coming in the home is the most important consideration before anything else. Over and over we hear and see the same problems from people about their outdoor space not handling water well. Because of that, we wanted to compile some of the best tips we’ve learned in our years of experience.
Proper Grading
This is the simplest and most important tip we can provide. Grading the landscape beds near the house correctly can be the difference between water getting into your basement and water draining away safely. When we do our professional landscape design, we go for a 6″ drop from the first 10′ from house. More drop = better drainage. Before doing any new landscaping around a house including plants or edging or anything, always install more dirt. The picture below is a great example of this. We installed quite a bit of dirt to really raise up the level against the house to allow all the water to flow down into the yard itself. This will keep the water from sitting at the house.
Plant spacing
This tip tends to go under the radar. A lot of homeowners want to pack in as many beautiful plants as possible. When planning out where the plants go though, some care and thought needs to go into the equation. If plants are too close together, the water from the roof and near the house cannot flow nicely between the plants. Water collecting near the house is never a good idea so keeping the plants a good distance apart is important. Adding in more of a drop away from the house with grading, you can plant closer together. You can see in the picture below that we have spaced out the hydrangeas and the boxwoods slightly more than normal to allow for water to still flow between them when the plants grow older.
Rock and weed barrier fabric
Fabric prevents erosion and allows water to flow straight away from the house. Fabric keeps the plant roots balls a little smaller and compact so stop plants from getting too big and too close together. Fabric and rock allow the water to zoom away from the house unobstructed. Mulch absorbs water and does not prevent any easy way for water to be drained away. It can also erode away along with the dirt underneath. Standard landscape fabric is water permeable but most water will sheet off. Poly sheeting is completely waterproof and is great for areas without plants or where you can’t get the proper slope away.
For all your landscape drainage and landscape design needs, we strongly suggest you consult with a trusted, experienced landscape designer
who can help you get the most value for your money now and in the future.
The post 3 Tips for Better Landscape Drainage
appeared first on KG Landscape Management.
Plymouth’s clay soil causes soggy lawns, sinking patios, and constant sump pump issues. Learn how smart drainage design fixes it for good.
Minnetonka snow removal done right means safety, efficiency, and property protection—not just plowing. Learn how true winter care works.
Plymouth drainage problems? Fix soggy clay soil and prevent foundation and patio damage with smart drain tile, grading, and discharge solutions.
Edina lawn fertilization: seasonal strategies for lasting color and health. Expert insights on timing, topdressing, and soil care.
Design a Minnetonka outdoor kitchen built for all seasons — cedar, stone, and smart drainage make year-round living effortless.
Medina lawn experts explain how healthy soil—not chemicals—creates lasting weed control through aeration, overseeding, and topdressing.
Medina drainage experts explain how French drains and drain tile systems fix clay soil water issues and prevent muddy lawns and shifting patios.
Edina patio and pool drainage: protect your investment with smart design and precision installation that keeps surfaces beautiful, safe, and stable year-round.
When Pergolas Don’t Last, There’s Always a Reason After nearly two decades of building outdoor spaces across Medina, I’ve seen what happens when pergolas aren’t designed for Minnesota’s conditions. You can spot them a mile away—posts that lean, beams that twist, and concrete pads that have heaved out of level after just a couple of winters. It’s not because homeowners cut corners intentionally. It’s usually because whoever built it didn’t account for what our climate really does to structures that aren’t anchored right. Medina’s heavy clay soil doesn’t drain well. It holds moisture, freezes solid, and then expands like a hydraulic press pushing on everything above it. When pergolas are set on surface-level post bases, that pressure has nowhere to go but up—and the whole thing moves. Even small shifts can cause joints to separate, wood to crack, and hardware to loosen. That’s how a $15,000 structure starts looking tired after a few years instead of standing straight for decades. The truth is, pergolas here aren’t just about shade or looks. They’re about structure, drainage, and how every piece ties into the patio beneath it. A pergola that stands tall through Minnesota winters is built on the same principles as a good foundation—it’s only as strong as what’s underneath it. If you live in Medina and want to enjoy your backyard without worrying about your investment warping or sagging, start with design that respects the environment it’s built in. That means thinking beyond lumber and stain colors. It means understanding soil movement, water management, and the importance of integrating your pergola with the patio below it.
Solutions for Properties in Minnetonka You can always tell a Minnetonka yard that’s fighting its slope. Water doesn’t lie, it finds the weak spots every time. I’ve walked plenty of properties where a backyard starts beautiful in June, but by September, the patio is heaving, the grass near the pool looks like a marsh, and the homeowner is wondering how it got so bad so fast. The truth is, when you’re dealing with rolling terrain and heavy clay soils like we have around Minnetonka, you can’t just move dirt and hope gravity behaves. You need a plan that manages water from the surface all the way down through the subsoil. This is what I’ll walk you through here. You’ll see what actually causes drainage issues on sloped properties, how poor planning leads to cracked patios and shifting pool decks, and the smart drainage systems that can stop those problems for good. Whether you live near Lake Minnetonka or up in the higher ridges closer to Deephaven or Woodland, understanding how your yard sheds water is the difference between a property that lasts and one that’s constantly under repair. The Real Challenge of Sloped Minnetonka Yards Minnetonka is known for its hills, lakefront properties, and mature trees, but all that beauty comes with a set of challenges below the surface. Most of the soil here is dense clay. It holds water like a sponge and drains slowly, which means after every heavy rain, that water looks for a way downhill. If it doesn’t have a proper outlet, it ends up collecting right where you don’t want it, like along your patio, at the base of a retaining wall, or near your pool deck. I see this every season: homeowners trying to solve slope problems with a quick regrade, a layer of rock, or a simple surface drain. Those things might help for a while, but they don’t address what’s really happening underground. Clay soil doesn’t just get wet—it becomes saturated, expanding and contracting with every freeze-thaw cycle. When that happens under a patio or wall, it doesn’t matter how well-built the surface looks. The ground will move, and that movement cracks stone, shifts pavers, and slowly tears apart everything on top. The other challenge with sloped lots is how water interacts with gravity. It accelerates downhill, gaining momentum as it goes. When it hits a flat area like a patio, the water loses speed but not volume, pooling instead of flowing. That’s why I tell clients that “flat spots” on a sloped property are both an opportunity and a responsibility. They’re the best spaces to create usable outdoor areas, but they have to be engineered to handle water movement. I’ve worked on plenty of Minnetonka yards where the backyard has a beautiful view but terrible grading. You can have a perfect slope on paper, but if it directs water toward your house or creates a bowl effect between structures, you’ll end up with soggy soil and standing puddles that never dry. The goal is to move water off and away while keeping the surface level enough for comfort and usability. It’s a fine balance, but when it’s done right, it completely transforms how a property functions.