Garden Drainage & Groundworks in Haslemere

Typical Drainage Problems in Haslemere Gardens

We regularly see:

• Lawns that never properly dry out
• Puddles sitting on patios or paths after every shower
• Water running back towards the house or garage
• Mossy, slippery steps and shaded corners
• Beds and borders that either flood or dry out too quickly

Most of these issues come down to a combination of soil type, levels and how previous work was built. Our separate guide on subsidence, drainage and patio longevity looks at how poor drainage can shorten the life of paving and retaining walls.

Local Soil & Ground Conditions

Haslemere sits on a changeable mix of soils and slopes. Broadly, we see:

• Free-draining sandy/greensand soils around Shottermill and Critchmere
• Loamy garden soils in established areas of Haslemere and Grayswood
• Clay pockets and compacted subsoil in lower-lying spots and older, reworked gardens
• Sloping ground near Hindhead, Marley and the approaches to Blackdown

Good drainage design starts with understanding which of these you actually have under your feet. Our soil types in Haslemere guide goes into more detail on how each behaves.

How We Assess a Garden for Drainage

On a site visit we look at:

• Where water naturally wants to flow during heavy rain
• Existing high and low points in the garden and around the house
• Soil structure — how quickly water soaks away in a small test hole
• Gullies, downpipes and existing drains or soakaways
• Previous landscaping, filled-in ponds, old paths or raised areas

This tells us whether we need to move water across the surface, encourage it to soak into the ground, or send it to a specific collection point such as a soakaway — often in combination with retaining walls and level changes.

Common Drainage Solutions We Use

French Drains

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

• Often installed along the base of banks or retaining walls
• Useful where lawns meet patios or paths on a slope
• Helps intercept water before it reaches the house or low spots

Soakaways

Soakaways are underground chambers or crate systems that allow water to disperse slowly into the surrounding soil.

• Best suited to free-draining soils (many parts of Haslemere and Grayswood)
• Less effective in heavy clay unless carefully designed and sized
• Often used to take water from roofs, patios and driveways

Channel Drains & Surface Falls

For patios, driveways and paths we use:

• Gentle falls away from buildings and thresholds
• Channel drains at doorways and garage fronts where needed
• Gravel or planted borders to receive water at edges

Good falls and surface detailing usually solve more problems than any single “magic” drain — particularly around new terraces and steps.

Sub-base Choice & Permeable Surfaces

Sub-bases and surfacing materials strongly influence how your garden behaves in heavy rain.

• Type 3 sub-base or open-graded aggregates allow better movement of water in problem spots
• Permeable block paving or gravel reduces run-off in front gardens and parking areas
• Gravel/planting strips along hard edges help water soak away gradually

These choices tie directly into our design for driveway construction standards and front-garden layouts.

Groundworks for Patios & Driveways

Before any paving or surfacing goes down, we focus on:

• Correct excavation depth for your soil and planned use
• Removal of soft spots, old turf and topsoil from beneath hard areas
• Layered compaction of sub-base to reduce future settlement
• Protecting existing drains and access to inspection chambers

On sloping sites, we often use stepped formations and retaining structures to create level, usable terraces that drain predictably.

Improving Wet Lawns

For persistently wet lawns around Haslemere, Shottermill or Hindhead we may recommend:

• Regrading to remove low spots and hollows
• Installing lateral drains or collector drains beneath the lawn
• Topsoil improvement with sand and organic matter
• Redirecting roof or patio water away from the grassed area

Sometimes the most effective solution is to combine drainage improvements with a broader garden redesign, so lawn areas, paths and planting all support one another.

Protecting Buildings & Structures

One of the most important aspects of drainage and groundworks is keeping water away from:

• House walls and foundations
• Garages and garden rooms
• Retaining walls, steps and raised terraces

We design navigation routes for water first, then shape hard landscaping and planting around that, rather than the other way round. This approach greatly reduces long-term movement, damp issues and the risk of subsidence.

Areas We Cover

Haslemere · Shottermill · Hindhead · Grayswood · Camelsdale · Hammer · Marley · Kingsley Green · Critchmere · Fernhurst · Linchmere · Surrey/Sussex borders

Need Help With a Wet or Uneven Garden?

If you’re dealing with boggy areas, sinking patios or standing water, we can survey the garden, identify the underlying causes and design a practical, long-term drainage and groundworks plan — often tying in new patios, driveways or complete garden rebuilds. Our Haslemere landscaping costs guide gives typical budget ranges for this kind of work.

Request a drainage & groundworks survey

Related deep-dive guide

Drainage only works properly when soil behaviour, sub-bases and retaining structures are all pulling in the same direction. This guide goes one level deeper into water, flooding, gradients and soakaways.

Structural Guide

Drainage, Water, Flooding & Soakaways Explained

How surface channels, sub-bases, soakaways and gradients actually work together, where channel drains help, and what to consider near buildings and boundaries.

View drainage guide →

Haslemere Landscaping Knowledge Hub

Explore all of our in-depth landscaping guides for Haslemere, Hindhead, Grayswood, Kingsley Green, Shottermill and the surrounding Surrey/Sussex borders:

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