Landscaping & Gardening

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Overflowing Drains: What You Need to Know

29th January 2025

Overflowing garden drains can be a messy and stressful problem. Whether caused by heavy rain, debris, or blockages, it’s important to address the issue promptly to prevent damage to your garden and property. Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored for homeowners in England on how to deal with an overflowing garden drain.

Overflowing drains can pose health risks due to contaminated water. Make sure that you wear rubber gloves and waterproof boots, avoid direct contact with the water, and keep children and pets away from the area.

Identifying the cause

Start by looking for obvious causes, such as leaves, soil, and other garden debris clogging drains; heavy rainfall overwhelming the drainage systems; or structural issues such as collapsed pipes or root intrusion, which can obstruct water flow.

Clear visible debris

If it looks as though the overflow is due to surface debris, that is good news as the problem can probably be sorted fairly easily. As long as it is safe to do so, use a rake or gloved hands to remove leaves, twigs, and other obstructions around the drain. If standing water is blocking access to the drain, you can use a bucket to bail it out.

Use a plunger

If the blockage is in the drainpipe itself, a plunger could help dislodge minor blockages. Place the plunger over the drain opening, making sure that you get a tight seal. Push and pull vigorously to create suction and break up the blockage.

Try a drain snake or rod

For more stubborn blockages or those that appear to be deeper in the pipe, a drain snake or rod might do the trick. Insert the snake into the drain and turn the handle to break up or retrieve the blockage before flushing the drain with water to check if the blockage has been cleared.

Check for structural issues

If the drain remains blocked or overflows repeatedly, there could be a more serious issue such as collapsed or cracked pipes, or tree roots growing into the drainage system. These problems typically require professional intervention.

Know your responsibilities

Under English law, homeowners are generally responsible for private drains on their property. However, shared drains and sewers are typically maintained by the local water company. Check your property’s deeds or consult your local council if you’re unsure. If the drain that is overflowing is close to your boundary, it could still be due to a blockage in the public drains; contact your water board before contacting an independent plumber to determine if the drain is your responsibility, or theirs.

Contact a professional

If DIY methods don’t work or the issue persists and the water board has confirmed that it is your responsibility, call a local drainage specialist or plumber as soon as you can. Many companies in England offer 24/7 emergency services and will offer advice for free before you commit to repairs.

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Do you love dining al fresco? If you enjoy nothing more than a barbie in the garden, it is probably worth getting a good barbecue. Of course, you could spend hundreds of pounds on buying a new one but making your own is fun, cheap and will last for years. What’s not to love about that?If you are planning on building a brick barbecue and you have no bricklaying experience, it may be best to find an online instruction film to help you or employing a builder or handyman. However, if you do have some experience, this guide will help you.You Will Need:Bricks or breeze blocks– these can be bought new, or you can look for reclaimed sparesPaving slabsBarbecue set – you can buy grill pans and grills online, from about £30Brick settsCementSandSpadeTrowelSpirit levelHosepipe.Planning Your BarbecueFirst, choose the best spot. Make sure the new spot is level, out of the wind and away from anything flammable. If you are in doubt, you can always have a portable barbecue in the spot to see if it is right. There are two types of barbecue to choose from: a basic barbecue, or one with a stone side table, too. Do a bit of research and plan your barbecue according to your creativity, ability and tastes. Once you have decided on the size and design, you can calculate how many bricks you need. Lay your barbecue grill and (if you are making a side table) stone slab on the ground and lay out a surround of bricks, keeping as many as possible whole. You will end up with a capital E in bricks. This will tell you how many bricks you need per row. Based on a barbecue 13 bricks high, multiply the number of bricks in your E by 14 – to give you a few spares.The BuildUsing a mix of 5 parts sand to one part cement, fix your bricks. Use the spirit level at each stage to ensure that it is even. On the seventh course (row), on the left hand and inner walls, place the bricks side-on to create a ledge for the tray to sit on. Lay another three complete course and use side-on bricks on the 11th course (row) for the grill. Another two rows will give you a completed barbecue but if you want to add a warming grill, complete four more courses around the grill section only. make ledges on the 16th row and finish off with two more courses. Finally, cement a stone slab onto the side table section to complete your work area.Once your build has dried, you are ready to enjoy many years of happy barbecuing!
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Looking for more landscaping & gardening advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common landscaping & gardening questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

Do I need a professional to design and landscape my garden?

For simple stuff - planting, basic lawn care, a few raised beds - you can often manage it yourself. For anything involving hard landscaping, drainage, retaining walls, or changing ground levels, get a professional involved.
Badly built retaining walls and poor drainage cause expensive problems. A landscaper will also know which materials will actually work for your soil and conditions.
What is the difference between a landscaper and a gardener?

A gardener looks after your garden on an ongoing basis - mowing, pruning, planting, general upkeep. A landscaper creates the garden in the first place - patios, paths, fencing, decking, drainage, planting schemes, the whole structure. Some people do both, but they're distinct skill sets.
If you want the garden transformed rather than maintained, a landscaper is who you need.
How do I get rid of an overgrown garden?

It's often more work than it looks. Beyond cutting things back, there may be significant root systems to clear, possibly invasive species to deal with (Japanese knotweed needs specialist handling), and ground prep before any replanting can happen.
For anything seriously overgrown, professional clearance is going to be faster, more thorough, and safer than tackling it yourself.
What time of year is best for garden landscaping work?

Hard landscaping - patios, paths, decking, fencing - can happen most of the year, though very wet or frozen ground causes delays. Planting is best in spring or autumn when things establish more easily.
If you're planning something big, book a landscaper in late winter for spring work - good ones fill up fast once the season gets going.
What should I do if I have Japanese knotweed in my garden?

Take it seriously. It can damage buildings and hard surfaces, and some mortgage lenders won't lend on properties where it's present and unmanaged. You're not legally required to remove it as long as it stays within your boundary, but you are responsible for stopping it from spreading to neighbouring land.
It needs specialist treatment - either chemical treatment over multiple growing seasons, or excavation and licensed disposal. Don't compost it or put it in your general garden waste.
What are the benefits of artificial grass?

The obvious one: no mowing. It stays looking decent all year and doesn't turn to mud in winter, which is a real plus for households with kids or dogs. Modern artificial grass is much more realistic than it used to be and holds its colour well. Worth knowing though: it gets noticeably hot in direct sun, needs occasional brushing, and is made from plastic that can't currently be recycled at end of life.
It's a great fit for a low-maintenance, practical space - less so if the environmental benefits of a real lawn matter to you.
How can I make my garden low-maintenance?

Cut down the amount of lawn first - it needs more regular attention than almost anything else. Swapping sections for hard landscaping or planted beds with ground-cover plants makes a real difference.
Pick plants that suit your soil and aspect - ones that are happy where they are will largely look after themselves once established.
A thick bark mulch layer keeps weeds down and holds moisture. A drip irrigation system on a timer removes another regular task. A good landscaper can design a scheme specifically around low maintenance rather than just what looks attractive.
Do I need planning permission for decking, a pergola, or a garden room?

Decking is usually fine under Permitted Development as long as it's no more than 30cm above ground and doesn't cover more than half the garden. Open pergolas are generally okay - but start enclosing them with a roof and sides and they get treated differently.
Garden rooms are classed as outbuildings: permitted if single-storey, within size limits, not used as living accommodation, and set back properly from boundaries. Listed buildings are a different matter - any structure nearby needs listed building consent. If you're not sure, a quick inquiry to your local planning authority will give you a clear answer before you spend anything.

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