Swales are a sustainable, cost-effective irrigation solution that can be built and implemented by gardeners and farmers of all levels. But there’s no avoiding the fact that they take planning, preparation, and maintenance. Read on to avoid common pitfalls, and maximize your chances of success when it comes to installing swales in your sustainable landscape.Secondly, explore concrete drain with EARTHLOK to get more information.

Blunders to avoid when opting for swales

1. Avoiding swales in urban areas

Swales are often seen as a green technology that’s only applicable on rural sites. This is not the case. Swales can be used as an effective alternative to pipes and drains in any site, including urban ones. However, their success relies on correct design and installation.

When you’re planning a swale system for an urban area, there are two main factors to take into account: the danger of blocked drains and the need for cover over the swale system. Both factors are serious issues for city planners, particularly if the swale system will be used to service multiple properties. If council officials think it could cause water blockages or flooding problems, they may insist that sections of it be piped or covered (and charge you for doing so).

2. Choosing a false bottom material

The material you use to line your swale has a major impact on its performance.

When deciding to build a swale on your land, there are several things to be aware of.

Tall grass in the swale: The first thing to observe is whether you have tall grass in the swale. If you do, it’s possible that you don’t have a swale at all, but a drainage ditch. It seems counter-intuitive that something that is supposed to store water would be full of water all the time and be wet year-round, but if there is standing water or water flowing through in the winter, this is likely what you have. What has happened is that rain runs off your land into a depression and then flows out the bottom. This means that you need to address runoff before building a swale and possibly find a new spot for it.

The shape of the swale: Another thing to look at is whether the swale is straight or curved. If it’s straight, then you most likely do not have a swale because it would store so little water as to not be worth making one. If your swale curves, however, then you probably do have one as long as it isn’t full of tall weeds and grasses.

In summary, swales do not require much maintenance and they can be used to make a very beautiful green space. However, there are some pitfalls that you should avoid if you want to be successful with your swale system. Consider soil preparation and maintenance with the help of a professional to minimize problems, such as drainage and erosion over time. Green spaces are always an asset for both the ecosystem and the people who enjoy them. Further, it’s important to consider that natural resources are finite and only renewable over long periods of time. We need them to flourish for future generations.