When you have a John Deere tractor, you also have an endless source of opportunity. From building up to breaking down, your tractor can deliver a wide range of services around your land. Plus, who doesn’t love a weekend project? 

Many of us are plagued with rainwater that pools up in our yards, but maybe it’s time to take initiative and bring pride back to our lawns. If you are facing issues with runoff, one simple solution is to build a drywell. While it may sound like a very in-depth job reserved only for professionals, all it really takes is your John Deere tractor, one nice afternoon, and a couple of different materials.

A drywell’s main job is to redirect water. Runoff is collected through a pipe and then dropped into the drywell before it seeps back into the soil, dissipating into groundwater. 

The Materials You’ll Need To Make It All Happen

• Sub-compact or utility tractor with a loader and backhoe attached

• Shovels + tool to cut pvc pipe

• 4-inch Schedule 30 pvc pipe (make sure one pipe is perforated) + connector + glue

• Drywell barrel

• Pop up valve

   

Now, Time for Just a Couple of Steps…

Before you start digging, it’s important to double check that all of your utility lines are correctly marked. You can do this by simply calling 811 or requesting online.

Once you have your materials gathered up and your lines marked, it’s time for the fun to begin. Dig out a straight trench from Point A to Point B. Point A, the start of the PVC pipe, will ideally be placed by the house so it can catch rainwater from the gutter. Then, dig out a large hole at the end of the trench (Point B). No tricks here, just make sure the hole is big enough to fit your drywell barrel to fit and still have enough room to be surrounded by gravel. 

Using glue, connect all of the pipes together that will be placed down into the trench. Because we want water to start soaking into the ground before it even reaches the drywell, you’ll want to make sure that the last pipe you use before reaching the well on Point B is perforated and covered in a nylon sleeve. You’ll cover that area of the trench with landscaping fabric and gravel to allow water to soak out without any debris entering the system. 

After connecting all of the pvc pipes together with glue, make sure they are positioned in a slight, downward angle towards the well to allow for a natural flow. 

Before placing the drywell barrel in, don’t forget to knock out the perforated holes to allow for the collected rainwater to drain out. Now, you’re ready! Set the barrel into the hole and fill gravel most of the way up. Using a pvc connector, you’ll want to glue a pvc pipe to the top of the barrel, cut off just at ground level. Fill the rest of the hole and trench with gravel, and place a pop up valve onto the pvp pipe. This will allow for any water overflow to escape on the surface. Fill the surface with soil, and you’re done!

How Safe Are Drywells?

As long as you are using drywells for their intended purpose and following appropriate protocol, a drywell can be a great addition to your property. Not only will it reduce stormwater from pooling up on your lawn, but it will also keep urban water from polluting rivers or lakes nearby. 

Installing a drywell is a great way to release unwanted rainwater back into the ground. As long as you have your John Deere tractor and a little bit of determination, you’ll have no problem taking this project on. 

Don’t have a tractoryet? Check out our supply for a wide range of options. Our team willbe happy to help find the perfect solution for you.