Question
Hi Marc,

I have no idea if you are the right person to ask about this, but from reading your past answers, you certainly seem to know your stuff.  So here goes:

I have a house which sits on a slight grade, higher in the backyard.  I have a small, just above ground deck which sits behind the house.  My goal is to put in some sort of drainage / runoff system to stop the water running down the grade from gathering behind my house at the foundation wall.  My consideration is to put in an in-ground, plastic drainage system to carry the water away.  I would install it parallel to the foundation wall but in front of my deck.  They sell such things at Home Depot or Lowes.

First, is there any "better" way to do this?  I mean, those black plastic things are not that great looking, even if they are mostly underground.

Second, do I have to be concerned about frost heaving with such drains or do I have to put them below a certain level in-ground, etc.?  A major concern of electrical inspectors in this area (Delaware) is that all electrical lines are under frost-depth...

Third, is there a possibility that some forms of backyard vegetation will not take well to having this in the soil?  My wife is an avid gardener and I do not want to risk poisoning or damaging her garden?

Any ideas or info you can give me would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Mark

Answer
Sounds like there are two or three options for you, depending on the room available, and your budget.  

Option #1 (from cheapest) would be an above-ground swale.  I would suggest you line it with rocks. You抣l need a minimum of three feet of room for this (1-1/2 feet of slope on both sides of the channel) & no less than 6 inches deep, all the way around the house ?from back to front, where you will 搑elease?the water at some point, I hope.  This will require you to use a level to figure out where the high point is in the back, and ensure that the water will in fact be able to flow out of the area on the surface?if not, then,

Option #2 is a 揊rench drain?or similar, with parts available at most construction supply houses卪aybe Lowes/HD carry these less efficient devices.  Lowes carries the Akwadrain product, which can carry a limited amount of surface/subsurface water away, but only the top 6 inches or so.  The classic gravel and French drain requires a bit more construction, with gravel, perforated pipes, and filter fabric.  Interestingly enough, on the side of the Akwadrain product, there is a pretty good picture of how to build one of these things卭r just Google-search on 揊rench drain?for more pictures.

Alternative #3 is a channel-drain system.  The very best manufacturer is a company called NDS, and they have a great website at ndspro.com   Thy ship nation-wide, and  at their website, you can hunt down a local supplier.  

Sounds like you could use any number of their products depending on your situation, and I have had no plant fatalities in using this ABS plastic-based product, other than carving out the plants that might be in the way!!

~M