3 Practical Ways to Manage Water Around Your Kansas City Home

Kansas City weather can swing from heavy spring rains to fast summer storms, and when water isn’t directed away from your home it can lead to soggy yards, muddy patios, foundation concerns, and basement moisture. The good news: most drainage issues improve dramatically when you combine the right solution with smart grading and thoughtful outdoor design. Here are three homeowner-friendly options that can make a real difference.

1) Install a French Drain to Move Water Away Fast

A French drain is one of the most effective ways to intercept groundwater and redirect it to a better outlet location. It’s typically a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that collects water and carries it away—especially helpful when you have standing water along the foundation, a soggy side yard, or runoff collecting near a patio.

When it helps most:

• Water pooling in the yard for hours (or days) after rain

• A wet strip along the foundation or near downspouts

• Low areas that stay soft and muddy
  

Homeowner tip: A French drain works best when it has a clear “exit plan” (a safe discharge point) and is paired with downspout extensions so roof water isn’t dumping right next to the house.

2) Build Up Low Areas and Add Landscaping That Absorbs and Slows Runoff

Sometimes the simplest fix is reshaping the yard so water naturally flows away from your home instead of toward it. Adding clean fill soil to low spots and re-grading can eliminate puddling, and landscaping can help slow water down so it soaks in instead of racing across the surface.

Smart landscaping upgrades:

• Create gentle slopes that guide water away from the foundation

• Add mulch beds and deep-rooted plants that improve absorption

• Use edging and bed shapes to steer runoff toward safe areas

Homeowner tip: Focus on the first 6–10 feet around the house. If that zone is pitched correctly and planted thoughtfully, you’ll usually notice immediate improvement.

3) Use Hardscaping Design to Deter Water and Keep Outdoor Areas Usable

Patios, walkways, retaining walls, and outdoor living spaces can either cause water problems—or solve them—depending on how they’re designed. Good hardscaping doesn’t just look nice; it controls runoff, protects the soil, and keeps water from washing toward the home.

Hardscaping strategies that help:

• Pitch patios and walkways away from the home so water drains off instead of toward the foundation

• Add channel drains or catch basins near trouble spots (like the bottom of stairs or along a patio edge)

• Use gravel borders, permeable pavers, or drainage-friendly joints to reduce runoff and encourage infiltration

• Retaining walls with proper drainage (like gravel backfill and weep outlets) prevent pressure buildup and soggy areas
  

Homeowner tip: If you’re upgrading a patio or adding a walkway, that’s the perfect time to “bake in” drainage improvements—because correcting grading and runoff after the hardscape is installed is usually more difficult and more expensive. Give us a call if you need a hand!