Today’s gardens are designed outdoor spaces. Sleek patios, gravel paths, retaining walls and water features are all part of modern garden design, but if drainage isn’t planned correctly alongside the hard landscaping, problems soon appear.
DMI Draincare & Groundworks works with homeowners, landscapers and builders across Yorkshire to make sure that what looks beautiful also works beneath the surface.
Here’s how hardscaping and drainage go hand-in-hand, and what to consider to avoid water damage, erosion or flooding in your outdoor space.
What Is Hardscaping?
Hardscaping refers to the “non-living” parts of a garden. This includes:
- Patios and paved areas
- Garden paths
- Retaining walls
- Raised beds and planters
- Driveways
- Stone or timber edging
- Decking areas
These elements create structure, flow and function in the garden, but they also change how water behaves.
Why Drainage Must Be Planned with Hardscaping
When you add paving, decking or concrete to an outdoor space, you reduce the ground’s ability to absorb water. Without proper drainage, that water must go somewhere, and often it ends up pooling on patios, running toward the house or washing away soil.
That’s why hardscaping without drainage is one of the most common causes of:
- Flooded patios or paths
- Water damage to outbuildings and homes
- Waterlogged lawns or borders
- Moss, algae and slippery surfaces
- Frost heave and subsidence
A modern garden should look good and work well. That’s where we come in.
How DMI Combines Groundworks and Drainage
We don’t just fit drains. As experts in groundworks and drainage installations, we help design systems that manage water in the background while allowing landscapers to focus on appearance.
Our services include:
Soakaway Installation
We install modern soakaway crate systems that collect water from patios, driveways or lawn drains and disperse it into the subsoil safely.
ACO Channel Drains
Ideal for paved areas, ACO drains prevent water from pooling on patios or near garden buildings. We install them with the correct gradient and connect to soakaways or surface systems.
French Drains
These gravel-filled trenches help move water away from saturated areas like retaining walls or raised beds.
Permeable Base Preparation
We ensure patios and paths are laid on the correct sub-base to encourage drainage without undermining their stability.
CCTV Inspections
If drainage is added to an existing garden, we use CCTV drain surveys to assess what’s already underground, so new features won’t disrupt old systems.
Supporting Landscapers Across Yorkshire
We regularly work alongside landscapers and garden designers in:
If you’re a contractor, we offer full site preparation and drainage installations to complement your design, or we can take the lead on drainage while you focus on materials and layout.
Projects We Can Help With
- Modern courtyard gardens
- Large paved terraces
- Sloping gardens needing retaining walls
- Urban gardens with minimal grass
- Rural properties with poor ground drainage
- Driveway + patio installations needing soakaways
Even if you’re just re-laying a few slabs or redesigning a small back garden, getting the drainage right from the start avoids major problems down the line.
Get a Quote for Hardscape Drainage
Whether you’re a homeowner designing a modern garden or a landscaper looking for a reliable groundworks partner, we’re here to help.
We offer:
- Free quotes
- Clear advice
- Fast turnarounds
- 5-star service across the region
Call us today:
Office – 01757 429296
Out of Hours – 07947978854
Or email us
FAQ: Garden Drainage & Hardscaping
1. Can you add drainage to an existing garden without ripping it up?
Yes, we often retrofit discreet drainage systems that blend into the landscape. A site survey will tell us what’s possible.
2. What’s the best drainage for patios?
That depends on the slope and location. Most patios need ACO channels or a slight fall into a soakaway. We’ll advise based on your layout.
3. Do you work with artificial grass or decking too?
Absolutely. We help prepare permeable bases and ensure correct drainage under decking or turf installs.
