Garden Drainage & Groundworks in Godalming

Why Drainage Problems Are Common in Godalming

Godalming sits within a varied geological area including:

• Heavy Weald clay (common in Witley, Hambledon and parts of Farncombe)
• Silty and mixed soils across central Godalming
• Sandy deposits toward Charterhouse and Hurtmore
• Steep slopes around Busbridge, Frith Hill and the edge of the Surrey Hills

These soil conditions, combined with older drainage infrastructure, often create issues such as:

• Ponding after rain
• Patio or driveway flooding
• Saturated lawns
• Water against house walls
• Soft ground causing paving movement and settlement

If you’re also seeing cracked paving or movement around trees, our subsidence & patio longevity and tree roots & clay movement guides give a deeper look at how ground conditions affect hard landscaping.

Primary Drainage Solutions for Godalming Gardens

1. French Drains

A French drain is a gravel-filled trench containing a perforated pipe that collects and redirects water.

• Ideal for gardens with persistent wet areas or where banks feed water down onto flat ground.
• Helps relieve water pressure behind retaining walls and level changes.
• Commonly installed in clay-heavy areas like Witley, Milford and parts of Farncombe.

2. Soakaways

Soakaways are designed to disperse water slowly into the ground where soil infiltration permits.

• Require an infiltration (percolation) test before installation.
• Best in sandy or mixed soil areas (Hurtmore, Charterhouse slopes).
• Typically built using modular crates, wrapped in geotextile membrane.
• Often used to take water from roofs, patios and front driveways.

3. Land Drains

• Used for redirecting surface or groundwater away from problem areas.
• Effective along garden boundaries or running beneath lawns.
• Often combined with French drains for heavy clay zones.

4. Surface Water Management

• Channel drains for patios, terraces and driveways.
• Slot drains by bi-fold or sliding doors.
• Graded surfaces to move water away from buildings and towards safe collection points.
• Linked drainage systems feeding soakaways or well-prepared garden borders.

Drainage for Sloped & Tiered Godalming Gardens

Many Godalming properties are built on hillsides or sloping plots. Without proper drainage, rainwater will:

• Rush towards the house
• Pool on flat sections
• Cause erosion around steps, terraces and paths

We use techniques such as:

• Interceptor drains at the top of slopes
• Land drains running across gradients to collect and divert water
• Retaining wall weep holes to relieve trapped water
• Perforated pipes behind all structural walls and significant level changes

Drainage is always planned alongside any new retaining walls and patio terraces, rather than added as an afterthought.

Drainage Behind Retaining Walls

Godalming’s sloped gardens mean retaining walls are often essential. Without good drainage, these walls become dangerous and fail prematurely.

We ensure structural walls are built with:

• Perforated drain pipe at the base, falling to a suitable outlet
• Clean drainage stone backfill (not clay or topsoil)
• Weep holes or gravel panels where appropriate
• Geotextile membrane to stop silt migration and clogging

For more on wall structure, see our retaining wall rules & safety guide for Godalming.

Improving Lawn Drainage

Lawns around Busbridge, Milford and Witley often sit on dense clay, making them soggy for days after rainfall.

Solutions include:

• Sand/topsoil amelioration to open up the soil profile
• Hollow tine aeration to relieve compaction
• Sub-surface land drainage grids where water continually sits
• Rootzone replacement for severe, long-term problem areas

In many gardens, lawn drainage is tackled at the same time as new patios and access paths so the whole space works together.

Assessing Soil Permeability

Before installing drainage, we assess how well the soil absorbs water using a simple percolation test.

This determines whether a soakaway will work, whether land drains are required instead, or whether we should prioritise surface runoff and safe discharge to planting areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all gardens in Godalming need drainage?

Not all – but gardens on clay soils, shaded plots or north-facing slopes often benefit from some form of intervention. Even simple changes to falls, downpipe routing or surface detailing can make a big difference.

How long does drainage installation take?

Simple French drains can be completed in 1–2 days. Full systems including patio or driveway drainage and soakaways typically take 3–7 days depending on access, ground conditions and scope.

Will drainage work damage my existing patio or driveway?

In some cases we can retrofit drainage alongside existing structures. However, if paving has already sunk or cracked badly, it can be more cost-effective to rebuild that area to the correct patio or driveway standard while we improve drainage below.

Do you handle all spoil and waste removal?

Yes, we organise all legal disposal of soil and materials using skips or grab lorries as needed, in line with our waste removal & skip rules.

Which areas do you cover?

Godalming, Milford, Farncombe, Witley, Busbridge, Charterhouse, Hurtmore, Hambledon, Chiddingfold and the surrounding Surrey Hills.

Need Drainage Work in Godalming?

We’d be pleased to visit your garden, assess the ground conditions and propose the right combination of drainage, groundworks and surface design.

Many of our projects combine drainage with wider complete garden rebuilds, so you solve historic water problems and upgrade the space at the same time.

Request a drainage & groundworks assessment

Godalming Landscaping Knowledge Hub

Explore all of our in-depth landscaping guides for Godalming, Milford, Farncombe, Busbridge, Charterhouse, Witley, Hurtmore, Hambledon and the surrounding Surrey Hills:

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