Drainage & Irrigation Contractor in Wilmington, NC
Landscape drainage built for hurricane runoff and sandy soil. Irrigation systems designed for the coast. 15 years across Wilmington and the Carolina coast.
15 Years on the NC Coast · NC GC License #100844 · NC Landscape Contractor #1400 · NC Stormwater BMP Certified · Permits Processed In-House
Drainage and Irrigation, Designed as One System
Water moving onto your property and water you put back on your property should be designed together. We plan both as a single integrated system so grades, zones, and drainage work in concert. One crew, one scope, one responsible party.
Drainage Solutions for the Coast
Coastal drainage problems aren't slope problems, they're volume and soil problems. Sandy subsoil drains inconsistently. Hurricane runoff overwhelms residential systems built for normal rain. Low-lying lots collect water nowhere else can. We design for storm conditions, not average ones.
French drains for foundation protection
Surface drains and catch basins
Downspout extensions and tie-ins to drainage systems
Channel drains for driveways, patios, and pool decks
Permeable paver systems for storm water compliance
Yard regrading
Sump pump systems for low-lying lots
Pool deck and hardscape drainage integration
Irrigation Systems Built for the Carolina Coast
Coastal irrigation has a different math than inland. Sandy soil dries fast and needs more frequent, shorter cycles. Salt-tolerant landscapes need different zoning. Local water restrictions require smart controllers. We design accordingly.
Spray and rotor zones for lawn coverage
Drip irrigation for beds, trees, and gardens
Smart, weather-based controllers
Rain sensors and water-restriction-aware programming
Backflow prevention
New sod establishment programs
Existing system repair, expansion, and audits
How It Comes Together
Free on-site consultation. We walk the yard, look at grade, soil, and where water moves, and scope the build.
Design and proposal. You'll see the plan, materials, and a clear written proposal before committing.
Permits and materials. Permits pulled in-house, materials locked in.
Build. Most drainage and irrigation projects take 1 to 3 weeks from start to walkthrough.
Where We Build
Thorpe Landscapes installs drainage and irrigation up and down the coast of New Hanover County all the way to Southport. Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Leland, Hampstead, Kure Beach, Castle Hayne, Surf City, Topsail, Porters Neck, and Wrightsboro.
FAQs
How do I know if I need drainage work?
Common signs: standing water after every storm, water in the crawlspace, eroded soil, soggy spots that won't dry, lawn damage in low areas, water running across hardscape. If you've seen any of those, especially after a hurricane or tropical storm, the system in place wasn't built for coastal volume.
What's the difference between a French drain and a surface drain?
Surface drains catch water on the surface at low spots and route it away. French drains catch subsurface water moving through soil along a perforated pipe in gravel. Coastal yards often need both, plus a sump pump if the lot is low-lying.
How do you handle hurricane and storm-volume runoff?
Designed in from the start. Coastal drainage needs capacity for storm volume, not average rain. We size pipes, drains, and grades based on actual storm data for the area, then tie into existing systems or daylight to a stable discharge point.
Can you install drainage and irrigation at the same time?
Yes, and it's almost always cheaper and cleaner to do them together. One trench, one design, one mobilization, one finish grade. Splitting the projects costs more and risks the systems working against each other.
Will the irrigation system handle local water restrictions?
Yes. Smart controllers programmed for your area's restrictions, rain sensors, and zone-by-zone scheduling keep the system compliant and water bills low.
“We recently worked with Thorpe Landscapes to address some major drainage issues in our yard. We got several quotes for the project, and decided to proceed with Thorpe not because they were the cheapest option, but because they understood the problem and we felt they would take the time and do the research necessary to truly resolve our issues rather than just putting a band-aid on it.
After looking into multiple options, discussing pros and cons, and taking several careful measurements of the yard, we came up with a plan.
They set practical, realistic expectations on timeline and budget, and walked us through the project every step of the way. The crew was incredibly courteous and communicative and you could tell that they enjoyed their work and took pride in what they did.
At the end of the project, we were blown away by what they were able to accomplish. Not only did they do a fantastic job of addressing our standing water issues, they made our yard absolutely beautiful in the process. We highly recommend them!“
- Lauren Marciliat
Let’s Solve Your Water Problems
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