A swale is a shady spot, or a sunken or marshy place. In particular, in US usage, it is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides. Such a swale may be either natural or man-made. Artificial swales are often infiltration basins, designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration.

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Similarly one may ask, what is a swale in a yard?

Swales are ditches or trenches built to direct and slow the flow of rainwater so that it has a chance to sink into the soil. While many gardeners dig swales on hillsides, all that is required is that the outlet on the far end of the swale is lower than the swale itself.

Similarly, how do you make a swale? Constructing a Swale in 9 Steps

1. Step 1: Observe water on your site.
2. Step 2: Identify the ideal site for a permaculture swale.
3. Step 3: Mark the contour line.
4. Step 4: Dig a trench along the marked contour line.
5. Step 5: Mound the soil from the trench on the downhill side to create a berm.
6. Step 6: Test and adjust the swale.

One may also ask, what is the difference between a ditch and a swale?

As nouns the difference between ditch and swale is that ditch is or ditch can be a trench; a long, shallow indentation, as for irrigation or drainage while swale is a low tract of moist or marshy land or swale can be (uk|dialect) a gutter in a candle.

Why are Swales important?

Artificial swales are often designed to manage water runoff, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration. It is designed to slow and capture runoff by spreading it horizontally across the landscape along an elevation contour line, facilitating runoff infiltration into the soil.

Related Question Answers

How does a swale work?

Swales as used in permaculture are designed to slow and capture runoff by spreading it horizontally across the landscape (along an elevation contour line), facilitating runoff infiltration into the soil. In arid climates, vegetation (existing or planted) along the swale can benefit from the concentration of runoff.

How do I keep water from pooling in my yard?

Identify where you have standing water in your yard. Use a shovel to dig a trench in that area that leads to a place where the water can more easily drain. Line the trench with pea gravel. Purchase a French drain pipe or simply get a plastic, flexible landscape pipe.

What is a driveway swale?

A swale is a shallow depression that is wider than it is deep. Creating a swale along one or both sides of your driveway will provide a place for storm-water to collect and re-enter the groundwater. They will also keep any water draining off the hillside from flowing down your driveway and flooding your garage or home.

What is a swell in a yard?

Swells are used out doors in the landscape in areas that have hills. Instead of having a hillside slide down when there is heavy rain, a swell is installed and the swell redirects and help remove the water to help with erosion control. Swells look like open shallow ditches and can run horizontally or vertically.

How do you redirect water drainage?

6 Ways to Divert Water

1. 6 Tricks to Keep Water at Bay.
2. Dig a Swale. A swale is a shallow trench that redirects water to where it can be safely released.
3. Construct a Dry Stream. Like swales, dry streams redirect water and prevent runoff damage.
4. Grow a Rain Garden.
5. Build a Berm.
6. Route Water into a Dry well.
7. Lay Pervious Paving.

What is a swale easement?

138 posts, read 373,565 times. A "Stormwater" Easement is usually just a drainage ditch or swale that runs along a property to carry rainwater to a drain located at the end. These are harmless, and may only get "full" under a heavy rain. they are usually designed so as not to permit standing water.

How much does it cost to build a swale?

Surface swale: Estimate at $.50 per square foot. These slightly depressed flow lines are created through grading. Surface may be lawn or cobbles to help slow velocity and filter debris. French drain: Estimate $20.00 to $30.00 per linear foot.

Does gravel help drainage?

Landscaping gravel also provides much-needed drainage so that water doesn't collect around the roots. Gravel and stone are easy to spread and easy to maintain.

Can a French drain be covered with grass?

The simplest drain is a classic French drain, which is nothing more than a trench filled with coarse stone or gravel. The drain can be left open or, if aesthetics are a concern, can be covered with a couple of inches of topsoil and sod.

What is a French drain used for?

A French drain or weeping tile (also trench drain, filter drain, blind drain, rubble drain, rock drain, drain tile, perimeter drain, land drain, French ditch, sub-surface drain, sub-soil drain or agricultural drain) is a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and

When should you use a French drain?

French drains are primarily used to prevent ground and surface water from seeping into building foundations, however, are many reasons why people will install a French drain to redirect surface and ground water. These drains are often used to remove excess water from low areas, or extremely wet areas of the property.

Is a French drain a good idea?

French drains are effective at removing moisture from over-saturated soil. Additionally, French drains are susceptible to frequent clogging, as they are underground, and roots from trees and shrubs often displace and damage the perforated piping.

Do French drains need an outlet?

A properly designed French drain system does not require an outlet. The water will simply soak into the soil as it flows along the perforated pipe. In fact, a French drain doesn't require an inlet on just one end either. You can construct the drain to accept water along its length, and disperse it underground.

What is the difference between a French drain and a trench drain?

The main difference between the two is that French drains capture and remove ground water while trench drains quickly remove surface water before it can saturate the ground. Here's a closer look at each type of drain.

What is the difference between a bioswale and a rain garden?

The key difference between the two is that bioswales are designed more for cleaning and processing water as well as redirecting it (usually away from a road or lot), while rain gardens are more strictly designed to absorb stormwater, particularly off rooftops and walkways.

How do you size a drainage swale?

To size the swale, this area is multiplied by 12mm in order that the first 12mm of rainfall in any one rainfall event can be held in the swale – any additional run- off will overflow downhill. This volume of run-off (area x 12mm) is known as the Treatment Volume, Vt.

How wide is a swale?

The swale can be trapezoidal or parabolic, with a minimum bottom width of 2 feet and a maximum bottom width of 10 feet. Grass height shall be established and maintained at 3-6 inches.

How do you dig a swale by hand?

Steps

1. Site the swales.
2. Attach the line to the stakes at the same distance up from the bottom.
3. Pound in stakes once you've found the contour for your swale.
4. Dig a level trench.
5. Get the bottom of the trench flat and level.
6. Begin filling the swale.
7. Add bulk material, like rotten wood.
8. Add a final cover material, like straw.

What is the purpose of a rain garden?

All About Rain Gardens A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rain water runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns.