How to Install a French Drain: 6 Steps to Achieving Proper Drainage
Improper drainage can lead to standing water in your yard, killing grass and ornamentals, while creating a breeding ground for those pesky mosquitoes. When that water is in close proximity to a foundation, it can also lead to leaky basements, mold and mildew buildup, and in extreme cases, damage to the concrete itself. French Drains (which in fact, are not French at all, but acquired the name in 1859 from their creator Henry Flagg French, of Concord Massachusetts) are designed to naturally carry water away from trouble areas in your yard.