What Is A French Drain? Here's How To Know If It's Right For Your Yard

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There’s quite a few misconceptions surrounding French drains. First, despite their name, French drains did not originate in France. Their namesake is actually Massachusetts farmer, Henry French. And despite the mis-association with France, French drains are actually a very popular choice for lawn irrigation across the Southern U.S.

Another common cause of confusion, irrigation expert Sean McCormick reveals, is that the phrase “French drains” is often over-prescribed to describe alternate forms of irrigation. In some ways, the name has become a catch-all for multiple types of lawn drainage. However, this over-generalization may lead to expensive installation mishaps if you are unclear what you’re asking for.

Sean McCormick is the sales manager for Bluegrass Irrigation in Lexington, Kentucky

Now that we’ve established what French drains aren’t, here’s everything you need to know about what they are and if they’re the right choice for your yard.

“A French drain is a cavity underground, designed to capture surface water that has nowhere else to go,” McCormick explains.

Dug into the ground, French drains include a perforated pipe, wrapped in a water-permeable fabric and covered by gravel or stone. Gravity pulls water from the surface into the pipe, which drains the water out from the yard.

French drains are optimized to collect water and transfer it. They are surrounded by gravel or stone, which are easier for water to pass through than soil, and the pipe materials such as water-permeable fabric enable efficient water capture.

From there, the water is set flowing away on the path