Fix your messy backyard mud pits and protect your home foundation by turning your leaky downspout into a stunning stone waterfall that handles heavy rain with ease.
Water pouring out of a metal pipe hits the ground with a lot of force and quickly washes away the dirt and grass. This creates a deep hole filled with mud that can eventually let water seep into your basement and cause very expensive damage. Most people just try to grow more grass in the mud but the water is simply too strong for tiny roots to survive.
You can stop the erosion and make your house look like a professional resort at the same time. This stone feature slows down the rushing water so it can soak into the ground gently without making a mess. You get a beautiful view from your window and a clean spot that no longer tracks mud into your clean house on rainy days. It also gives you a perfect place to grow moisture loving plants that thrive in wet soil.
Start by digging out a shallow basin where the water hits the ground and create a gentle path for the water to travel away from your house. Lay down a thick layer of heavy landscape fabric to keep the dirt from mixing with your new stones. Stack several flat pieces of flagstone directly under the pipe to act as stairs that break the fall of the water. Fill in the areas around the stairs with a mix of smooth river rocks and large cobbles to hold everything in place.
Plant some Blue Flag Iris and Ostrich Ferns along the edges of the rocks to add soft textures and bright colors. These specific plants love wet feet and will help hold the soil together with their strong roots. Use a piece of black metal edging around the whole garden bed to keep the mulch and rocks from sliding into your lawn. You can also add some Guacamole Hostas in the shady spots to create a lush green border that hides the foundation of your home.
Make sure to clear out any fallen leaves or twigs from between the rocks every autumn so the water can always flow freely through the stones.
