- 1). Locate the downspout nearest your garden.
- 2). Spray paint a line over your yard from the downspout to your garden. Choose the shortest route possible to maximize the amount of water that reaches your plants.
- 3). Dig a shallow trench over the painted line using a spade shovel. Place the excess dirt into a wheelbarrow and transplant it into your garden or compost heap. The trench needs to be deep enough to usher water from your downspout to your garden but not so deep as to form a stagnant puddle. A depth of 2 to 4 inches is usually sufficient.
- 4). Arrange bricks or stones around the trench's edges to make it more visually appealing. This also shows that the trench serves a purpose and isn't the result of poor landscaping.
- 5). Monitor the trench during the next rainfall. Note any areas where water is "stuck" or stagnating. Add or remove dirt as necessary to maximize the water's transport from downspout to garden.
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