How to keep mulch from washing away downspout

Sometimes it is not directly the rain that will cause havoc to your mulch but the gutter runoff that is washing it away. Unfortunately, a downspout or gutter is something that cannot be easily moved. So read on if you want this solved without a lot of inconvenience.

So how do you keep gutter runoff from washing away mulch?

Here are the best tips you can use to stop your mulch washing away without having to move around a downspout.

Clean gutter and Install gutter guards

Sometimes, the water coming out of your downspout may have more pressure than it should have because part of the pipe could be half blocked.

Overtime, leaves and dead organisms could block up your downspout.

If you find the gutter runoff is extremely high pressure at the spout even though there isn’t that much rain, consider checking the pipe for blockages.

You can check by waiting for rain or spraying a hose on your roof and seeing what the gutter runoff looks like.

giving the inside of your gutter a poke with a stick or using your phone to reach inside and take a photo are good ways of investigating what could be causing it.

Sometimes, you will need to disassemble the drain pipe to find exactly where the blockage is.

Install a flexible downspout extension

Downspout extensions can change the way water comes out of your gutter and reduce the amount of mulch washing away or washing the mulch away at all.

If you find you don’t want to install a downspout extension because it will take up too much room, worry no more. Learn how to install a hinged downspout extension or put down a splash block and still keep the extra room in your garden.

The below options suit different scenarios:

Flat downspout (ideal for spreading water over a large area)

This extension will reduce the water pressure coming out of your downspout and spread rainwater over a large area.

You can even bury the downspout slightly below the mulch if you feel like hiding it out of sight.

This ensures you don’t have a lot of water all coming out in one place and your gutter runoff won’t wash away your mulch by releasing water at high pressure.

Flexible downspout

This is an extension that will re-route water away from the immediate exit of your downspout.

This is a good device if you have an area nearby your downspout where there is a drain or no mulch that is able to wash away water more effectively.

The water pressure and the way it comes out will still be the same but this is an easy way of pushing the water to somewhere where it wont cause a mess!

Install a nearby storm drain

Hiring a plumber to install a storm drain can be ideal for creating an outlet for the rainwater that comes out of your gutter.

Sometimes, it is worth checking this option out as it may only be a small distance to dig to connect this drain to a main sewage pipe.

The option can be expensive however storm drains can also prevent flooding or pooling of water during heavy rain, potentially saving further property damage.

If you know your property is prone to flooding, potentially you could kill two birds with one stone.

Install a storm drain, stop your mulch washing away and prevent flooding damage.

Put your downspout underground

This option involves taking your gutter runoff underground, in a pipe and letting it out further away from the side of your property, underground or into a storm drain.

This is useful if you have mulch around the side of your property but unused land or a practical water runoff area further away.

To install, you can do it yourself fairly easily by planning out where you want to reroute water, digging a trench and buying the correct piping.

Re-routing water away from the base of your property may also stop water from damaging its foundation so can have additional benefits.

Advantages of putting your downspout underground

• Protects the foundation of your property from water damage
• Can be used to water drier parts of your garden
• Prevents pooling of water around your property during heavy rain

Disadvantages of putting your downspout underground

• Can cause parts of your garden to become extremely waterlogged if done incorrectly
• Requires manual labour and expertise
• May cost a lot of money to install depending on your situation

Use course, heavy mulch

This method of preventing your mulch washing away downspout is pretty simple.

If the mulch underneath your downspout is heavy enough, it will not be able to be washed away. Even by the heaviest of rains. This works well if your mulch is washing away downhill too.

Ideas for heavy mulch include:

• Stones
• Gravel
• Single or double hammered mulch

Install a dry creek bed downspout of your mulch area

Installing a dry creek bed can be a great way to add a natural looking feature to the end of your downspout that blends in well with the surrounding mulch.

There are many types of dry creek beds for downspouts but the main idea is to add rocks or stones underneath your downspout that channels away through stones. Perfect for if you are trying to keep the front of your garden path looking professional and you don’t want running water in the way.

Pros

• Natural looking feature
• Able to get creative and make a personalized creek
• Can attract wildlife to your space
• Still looks good when there’s no rain

Cons

• Can take up a lot of room where you’d rather put mulch

Add a downspout splash block

You may find that the reason you mulch is washing away is because the water is falling from quite high up out of your downspout.

In turn, splashing and creating an area where mulch is washed away as the water hits the ground.

A splash block simply absorbs this water and allows it to flow less aggressively into your soil.

There are a range of designs you can consider for the end of your downspout. Including natural looking ones.

Check out this decorative turtle block for instance:

In conclusion…

To conclude, preventing mulch from washing away downspout can be a process that often involves adding something to the end of your downspout to reduce the speed and impact of the water.

Alternatively, re-routing the expelled water to somewhere else can be another excellent way to keep your mulch from washing away under your gutter.

This is a problem that thankfully can be solved creatively and you have the power to choose the best option.

You can go all out with creating your very own custom dry creek or just buy a gutter extension. The choice is yours!