Why splash blocks fail on a Houston lot
A plastic pad is not fall. It is a suggestion the water ignores after the first inch. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Journal
Field notes.
Gutter overflow as a drainage source in Houston
Undersized or clogged gutters dump a sheet at the fascia. The yard then inherits a roof that bypassed the downspout. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Air-conditioner condensate adding water to a Houston bed
A condensate line that drips at the foundation is a small, constant source. Rain is not the only water. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Mower ruts that become drainage failures in Houston
Low tire lines hold water and then compact. The crown of the lawn becomes a set of canals. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Cool-season wet clay around a Houston house
Shorter days and slow evapotranspiration make winter the honest test of a path. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
North-side shade and a lawn that never dries in Houston
Shade slows evaporation. Add roof water and you have a climate, not a mystery. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Trees, roots, and drainage lines in Houston
Roots follow water. A perforated line under a thirsty oak is a future clog unless you plan for it. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Cutting driveways and walks for drainage in Houston
Sometimes the only honest capture crosses concrete. The cut, the set, and the close are part of restoration. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
When Houston needs a whole-property drainage system
Repeated wet corners after small jobs usually mean the path was never drawn as one system. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Groundwater versus last night’s rain in Houston
If the soil stays wet in dry weather, the reservoir is below the grass. Surface grates will tease you. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
Groundwater versus last night’s rain in Houston
If the soil stays wet in dry weather, the reservoir is below the grass. Surface grates will tease you. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.
When a curtain drain belongs on a Houston lot
Use it to cut off subsurface flow before the wall. Not as a nickname for any trench near the house. Local notes for Houston: Gulf Coast prairie clay that accepts water slowly and holds it.