Drainage Ditch Solutions for Minnesota Yards

When a Drainage Ditch Makes Sense

• A large volume of water crosses your property during storms
• Water is coming from a neighboring property, a street, or a hillside above you
• A low area runs along a property line or the back of a lot
• Burying a pipe isn’t practical or is more than the situation calls for

If you’re not sure whether an open ditch or an underground pipe is the better fit, our French drain installation guide covers the underground option, and our landscape drainage solutions guide compares both side by side.

Designing a Ditch That Works and Looks Good

A ditch that’s too steep erodes. One that’s too flat just becomes a long puddle. We grade every ditch for a steady, gentle fall, then choose a lining, rock, grass, or native plantings, based on how much water it needs to handle and how visible it is from the house. Deep-rooted plants along the edges hold the soil in place better than turf grass alone.

Know the Rules Before You Dig

Altering how water moves off your property, especially near a property line, can run into Minnesota’s drainage laws. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has resources on how private and public drainage systems interact, which is worth a look before any major regrading near a boundary.

Maintaining a Drainage Ditch

A ditch needs occasional upkeep: clearing leaves and debris, reseeding bare spots, and checking for erosion after a heavy storm. A ditch that holds water instead of moving it becomes a maintenance problem of its own; see our guide to standing water in your yard if that starts happening.

Get a Ditch Built for Your Yard

Sizing and grading a drainage ditch correctly takes more than a shovel and a guess. Our lawn drainage services include ditch design as part of a full yard drainage plan. Contact us for an assessment.