Water Management Solutions
Shorb provides water management solutions for any landscape water management challenge.
Do you have too much or too little water on your property? Shorb’s knowledge and expertise in water management can provide you with solutions to manage these common issues:
These issues can usually be resolved by regrading the soil, or installing a surface drain.
Erosion of mulch and dirt is usually caused by too much water moving too fast. Bare soils should be mulched or thickly planted. Reducing the water’s velocity with stones or re-directing the water, are two common ways of mitigating erosion issues.
If you have water in your basement, the first thing to do: CHECK THE GUTTERS. The second thing to do is make sure the soil around the foundation is properly graded and sloped away from the house.
This year, we are seeing lots of plants suffering from too much water. The real problem, is the soils not draining properly (percolating). Especially with new construction, we notice that a hardpan (a layer of compacted, clay soils) traps the water, preventing it from percolating through the soil profile. This trapped water (known as a “perched water table”) displaces the air in the soil, causing the plants to drown. We can easily test the soil, and provide remedial solutions in almost all situations.
Rain gardens can reduce run-off by capturing water from your downspouts – they have the added bonus of being attractive. Permeable paver driveways, patios and paths can also help absorb water on site.
Shorb is a certified installer of Raingardens and Bayscapes in Washington DC, and Rainscapes in Montgomery County. A RainScape is a landscape or design technique that helps reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties, both residential and commercial.
In Montgomery County, MD, The RainScapes Rewards Rebate Program also offers technical and financial assistance to encourage property owners to implement RainScapes techniques on their property.
Shorb is an expert consultant and installer for RiverSmart Homes in Washington DC. The RiverSmart Homes Program, created and overseen by the DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), is a community engagement initiative striving to reduce stormwater runoff from residential properties in the District of Columbia. The program provides homeowners with funding to retain stormwater on their properties.