Table of Contents
Step 1: Evaluate the Slope. Construction of a swale begins with analyzing the slope of the yard and water runoff patterns to plan the route for the swale ditch. Step 2: Lay Out the Swale. Step 3: Excavate the Swale Ditch. Step 4: Lay Gravel and Drain Tile. Step 5: Finish the Swale.
How do you dig a swale for drainage?
Use a shovel and cut a trench along where the center of the swale will be. Dig the trench, sloping the bottom down at least 1 inch for every 10 feet of length. If sod will be placed in the swale, lower the entire trench 2 to 3 inches. Next, mark the edges of the swale.
How wide should a swale be?
There are no hard rules about the size of a swale, but the bigger it is the more water it can absorb during a rainstorm. Six- to 12-inches deep and 3- to 4-feet wide are typical dimensions. Smooth out the shape of the berm with a hard metal rake to form a planting bed.
What is the minimum slope for a swale?
The minimum slope for grassy swales and drainage ways is 1 percent to prevent standing water and muddy conditions. Slopes for walkways will not exceed 5 percent, unless unavoidable. Slopes greater than 5 percent may make the construction of special ramps for the disabled necessary.
How do you dig a small swale?
Dig out the trench with a sturdy shovel. When digging the swale, the sides should be three to four times wider than tall. The top 8 inches of soil should be well-draining, so be sure to check it after every rainfall. If it drains too fast, you can add 40 percent compost to the soil.
How do you make a homemade swale?
Step 1: Evaluate the Slope. Construction of a swale begins with analyzing the slope of the yard and water runoff patterns to plan the route for the swale ditch. Step 2: Lay Out the Swale. Step 3: Excavate the Swale Ditch. Step 4: Lay Gravel and Drain Tile. Step 5: Finish the Swale.
What is a natural swale?
A swale is a shady spot, or a sunken or marshy place. Such a swale may be either natural or human-made. Artificial swales are often infiltration basins, designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration – green instances are the subterm bioswales.
What is a grassed swale?
A grass swale is a stable turf, parabolic or trapezoidal channel used for water quality or to convey stormwater runoff, which does not rely on the permeability of the soil as a pollutant removal mechanism. The total suspended solids (TSS) removal rate for a grass swale designed according to this chapter is 50%.
What are drainage swales?
A grass drainage swale is an open channel that collects water from hard surfaces and allows it to percolate into the ground, reducing the amount of runoff leaving the road or property. The grass covering the side slopes and swale bottom provides a filtration surface for the water and helps to reduce the flow velocity.
How do I make a rock drainage ditch?
How Do you Make a Gravel Drainage Ditch? Plan your trench to collect flood and stormwater and channel it downhill. Dig a trench 18 inches deep (45 cm) and 36 inches wide (90 cm). Line the trench with landscape fabric. Add a layer of gravel 8 inches deep (20 cm). Fold excess landscape fabric over the top of the gravel.
How do you make a dry river bed for drainage?
Instructions Lay Out the Creek Path. Lay out the side edges of the creek bed, using two garden hoses. Mark the Sides of the Trench. Dig the Trench. Add Landscape Fabric. Place the Boulders. Place the Medium-Size Stones. Add Special Features (Optional) Fill in With River Rock.
What is the difference between a ditch and a swale?
Swales and ditches are similar in a few ways, it is often said about swales that they are ditches on contour. To put it simply, a ditch is made to carry water away and a swale is made to collect and slowly release water into the landscape.
How steep is a swale?
Swales are not appropriate on steep landscapes. Any area with more than a fifteen-degree slope (about 1:3.75) isn’t appropriate for installing swales, as the water saturation may cause slides, which could be dangerous.
What is the minimum slope for a swale if it is located within 10 feet of a foundation and is used as part of the method for diverting water from the foundation?
Swales shall be sloped a minimum of 2 percent when located within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the building foundation.
What is the minimum slope for water flow?
For efficient drainage, paved surfaces should have a minimum 1-percent slope. Turf or landscaped areas should have a minimum slope of 2 percent.
How much does it cost to put in a swale?
Swales are simple to construct and normally cost around $0.50 per foot to install.
How do drainage swales work?
Swales follow the contours around the base of a natural or created slope, redirecting storm water and filtering runoff as it sinks into the soil, instead of keeping it in one place, like a rain garden. Plants suck up the water along a swale’s gently sloping banks and sometimes down the center of the channel.
Where can I build swales?
Step 2: Identify the ideal site for a permaculture swale. It should be: 10 feet away from a building (water must drain away from building) 18 feet away from the edge of a steep slope or septic drain field. Uphill from a garden or low spot that doesn’t drain well.
How do you make a permaculture swale?
The general idea behind digging the swale is that it should be about three-times as wide as it is deep, and the berm—the pile of excavated dirt—should be mounded to create the upper part of the bottom side of the swale. Make sure that the base of the swale is level so that the water disperses evenly.
