I hear you on the sock sleeves—those things clogged up on me in less than a year, and I was shocked at how fast it happened. I ended up digging it all out and just going with a wider trench, packed with 3/4" gravel around the pipe, no fabric. It’s messier up front but seems to drain better in my heavy clay. I did try root barriers once, but honestly, it felt like overkill for my little backyard. Maybe if I had a monster maple or something nearby, but otherwise, the roots haven’t been a huge problem.
One thing I’m still not sure about is whether to slope the pipe a lot or just let gravity do its thing with a gentle grade. Some folks say you need a pretty steep slope, others swear a slight angle is fine as long as the water has somewhere to go. What’s worked best for you?
I’ve seen both approaches work, but in my own yard, a gentle slope—like an inch per ten feet—did the trick. Too steep and the water rushes, leaving sediment behind. Too flat and it just sits there. I once tried a steeper grade behind my garage and ended up with a mini erosion channel... not fun to fix. As long as you’ve got a clear exit point, a steady, slight slope seems to keep things moving without drama.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had more headaches with relying on slope alone. Tenants aren’t always careful, and a little mulch or debris can block things up fast. That’s why I lean toward buried pipe—4” perf with gravel trench. It’s not as pretty, but it’s way more reliable long-term. Less maintenance, and you don’t have to babysit the grade every season. Slope helps, but without a solid drain line, you’re just asking for puddles down the road.
