The side yard that kept holding water
Water pooled along the side of the house. We drained it and planted it native.
- Where
- Tampa Bay, FL
- Service
- Native Landscape Design
- Year
- 2026
- Scope
- Native plants, pavers, rocks, mulch, an irrigation system and a French drain
- Environment
- Established neighborhood
- Status
- Completed
What was wrong
Water was pooling along the side of the house with nowhere to go. Standing water against a foundation is the kind of thing that quietly causes bigger problems the longer it sits.
What we did
We installed a French drain to carry the water away from the house, then ran new irrigation and drip lines so the plants get efficient watering without wasting a drop. A paver walkway runs to both the front entrance and the backyard, framed by decorative rock. The planting beds got mulch and a mix of Florida native species set around the home.
What it does now
The side of the house no longer pools. The drainage is handled, and the natives are matched to the environment around their home, so the whole yard works with the site instead of fighting it.
Species guide
Every plant here is doing a job.
-
Wild coffee
Psychotria nervosa
Shade-loving native shrub that fills the beds and feeds pollinators
Photo: Sam Sailor, CC BY-SA 4.0
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