Six site-specific solutions
Drainage that works with your property.
The best system may use one method or combine several. We evaluate the source, volume and path of runoff before recommending where the water should be collected, carried, slowed or stored.
French drains
A French drain controls water that moves through saturated soil. We excavate a sloped trench, line it with filtration fabric, place perforated pipe in drainage gravel and wrap the assembly to help keep soil from clogging the system.
Often used for
- Soggy lawns and planting beds
- Water collecting alongside foundations
- Seepage from slopes or neighboring properties
- Reducing subsurface moisture behind retaining areas
Best when the problem is water within the soil—not just water moving across the surface.
Catch basins & solid pipe
Catch basins collect visible surface runoff at low points. Solid drain pipe then transports that water without releasing it back into the soil. Basin size, pipe diameter, slope and outlet location are selected for the drainage area.
Often used for
- Low spots in lawns and planters
- Roof water discharged from downspouts
- Patio and courtyard runoff
- Connecting several collection points into one system
The grate remains accessible so leaves and sediment can be removed during routine maintenance.
Channel drains
A channel drain captures a sheet of water across a wide hardscape edge. Installed flush with the finished surface, it intercepts runoff before it reaches a garage, doorway, patio or other vulnerable area.
Often used for
- Garage thresholds and sloped driveways
- Patio doors and courtyard entrances
- Pool decks, walkways and paved side yards
- Transitions between landscape and hardscape
Correct elevation and a dependable outlet are just as important as the channel itself.
Swales & grading
Grading establishes the direction water naturally travels. A shallow swale can spread, slow and guide runoff through the landscape without relying entirely on underground pipe. We shape the route and stabilize it with appropriate plants, stone or turf.
Often used for
- Broad yards with manageable elevation changes
- Redirecting flow away from structures
- Reducing erosion on gentle slopes
- Connecting planted areas to a safe discharge point
A swale should guide water without sending a new problem toward a neighbor or public walkway.
Dry creek beds
A dry creek bed turns a visible runoff route into a landscape feature. The channel is shaped for flow, lined where appropriate and finished with a planned mix of gravel, cobble and boulders that looks natural even when the weather is dry.
Often used for
- Garden areas where an exposed channel makes sense
- Concentrated flow from slopes or downspouts
- Erosion control with a natural appearance
- Combining drainage with landscape improvement
The stone is more than decoration—the channel beneath it must still have continuous fall.
Rainwater collection
Rainwater tanks capture roof runoff for later landscape use while reducing the amount released at one time. A complete setup includes downspout connections, debris screening, a stable tank base, accessible controls and a planned overflow route.
Often used for
- Supplemental garden irrigation
- Properties with concentrated roof runoff
- Reducing discharge into sensitive planting areas
- Water-conscious landscape upgrades
Every tank needs safe overflow drainage for storms that exceed its storage capacity.
Not sure which one you need?
We’ll follow the water and recommend the right combination.
Serving Redondo Beach and surrounding South Bay communities.
Request an assessment Call or text (310) 303-2815 southbaygardencare@gmail.com