Drainage Mistakes to Avoid in Montana Landscapes

Good drainage is the backbone of every healthy landscape—especially in Montana, where spring snowmelt, summer storms, and clay-heavy soils create the perfect storm for water-related issues. Poor drainage can damage your home’s foundation, drown your plants, and lead to long-term erosion. At Horizon Landscape & Irrigation, we often help Billings homeowners fix drainage problems that started with small oversights. Avoiding a few common mistakes early on can save time, money, and major headaches down the road.

Ignoring the Natural Slope of Your Yard

Montana’s varied topography means most yards already have some kind of slope. Failing to account for this natural grade can lead to standing water or runoff heading straight toward your home. A properly designed landscape should encourage water to flow away from your home, not toward it. We recommend grading that gently channels water to designated drains or retention areas.

Relying Too Much on Surface Drains

While catch basins and trench drains can be helpful in high-traffic areas like driveways and patios, they are not a complete drainage solution. Many homeowners think a single drain will handle it all. But if the rest of the landscape isn’t sloped correctly or if water is allowed to collect in flat areas, those surface drains won’t do much good. They often become clogged or overwhelmed. Combining them with underground drainage solutions, dry wells, or French drains usually offers better long-term performance.

Planting Without Considering Drainage

One of the biggest mistakes we see is landscaping first, and thinking about drainage later. Installing sod or garden beds before addressing water flow can trap moisture where it shouldn’t be. Some plants also don’t tolerate wet feet and will struggle or die in soggy soil. Our approach integrates drainage planning into planting layouts, ensuring both aesthetics and functionality go hand in hand.

Downspouts Without Extensions

It may sound simple, but downspouts that discharge right at the base of your home are one of the most common causes of drainage problems. Water pools near the foundation, leading to cracking, basement leaks, and soil displacement. A properly extended downspout routes water well away from the home and into a drainage-friendly area—like a swale, rain garden, or dry creek bed.

Skipping Regular Maintenance

Even the best-designed drainage systems need upkeep. Leaves, debris, and soil movement can clog pipes, bury grates, or shift landscape grades over time. A clogged French drain or a sunken swale won’t manage water properly and could even make things worse. We recommend seasonal inspections to keep everything working as intended—especially before spring thaw and after big summer storms.

Let Us Help You Get It Right

At Horizon Landscape & Irrigation, we take a proactive approach to landscape drainage in Billings and across south-central Montana. Whether you’re installing a new system, noticing soggy patches, or cleaning up after a flood-prone season, we’re here to design smart solutions that last. From grading and swales to French drains and sump integration, we’ll tailor a system that fits your property’s needs.

Schedule a drainage assessment at https://horizonlandscapemt.com to avoid the common pitfalls and give your yard the protection it deserves.