Berms/Swales

Berms are another option to redirect water away from your home. Where a Swale is a concaved area, a berm is the opposite. It is an elevated area strategically created in the yard to redirect run-off water from flowing toward your home’s foundation. It is often used in agricultural land to keep low-lying areas from flooding. If you have a lower elevation yard than neighbors, you may be getting their run-off water in your yard. If that is the case, a berm is an excellent way to prevent excess water from reaching your home. Similar to swales, these elevated areas can be landscaped to look very pleasing. At times the berm incline in a yard is so slight that it may be hard to detect by the naked eye. In many cases, it doesn’t take much to be effective, but the higher berms are considered exceptional landscaping opportunities when completed.