Of all the landscaping advice I have received over the years, the one tip that has saved the most time and effort is this:
“If you don’t want to have to dig it up, ALWAYS plant a pvc pipe under it.”
If you are building a new natural stone path, plant a pvc pipe under it.
If you are pouring a new stamped concrete walkway, plant a pvc pipe under it.
If you are building a low wall planter bed, plant a pvc pipe under the foundation.
You get the idea. Just do it.
Use 3”pipe. It is just over 3 inches inside which will allow you later to push a number of smaller pipes for water, electrical, or drainage. You can fit up to three 1” pipes inside. It never hurts to have more room than you think you will need. Be sure to put something in the ends of the pipe or use standard pipe caps to keep soil from migrating into the pipe. Trench down below the lowest layer of the feature you are building. It is best to set the pipe in a base of sand and cover it with sand.
Make sure, also, to mark where the ends of the pipe are located on your landscape plans. It also helps if you can mark on your new landscape feature. For example, on a new stamped concrete walk, place a small nail in the concrete at each end of the pipe.
The cost of a 3”pvc or abs drain pipe is only $1.00 to $1.50 per foot. It could save you hundreds of dollars in sawing and repair. Have you ever seen what a walkway or driveway looks like after someone had to saw across it to put a drain underneath? Trust me. You want to have a pvc pipe buried, not a bill for concrete sawing and replacement.
PVC pipe won’t grow if you plant it, but, it will have you smiling from ear to ear when you decide to add lighting to that new brick flowerbed that you just finished and planted.
Comments