If you care about your garden in Cherry Hill and you are tired of soggy soil, standing water, or that swampy smell after a storm, then yes, a sump pump can help. Getting a proper sump pump installation Cherry Hill New Jersey will not just protect your basement, it can also protect your plants by controlling how much water lingers around your house.
That might sound a bit strange at first. Sump pumps are usually talked about in the context of basements, not garden beds or raised planters. But once you think about how water moves through soil, it starts to make sense.
I will be honest here. Many gardeners, including me at one point, ignore the whole foundation and drainage side of things. We focus on compost, mulch, which tomato variety tastes better. Then a wet year comes, the basement smells musty, and plants near the house start to yellow or drown. At that point, drainage stops being an abstract idea and becomes a problem you can see in your yard.
How a sump pump actually helps your garden
A sump pump is not magic. It will not turn clay into loam or fix a poorly graded yard on its own. It is just a pump in a pit that removes water from the lowest point of your house and sends it somewhere else. But that simple action can change how wet your soil stays near your foundation, which has a direct effect on garden areas around the house.
A sump pump protects your basement first, but in many Cherry Hill yards it also reduces excess moisture in nearby garden beds and lawns.
In Cherry Hill, many lots have a few shared traits:
- Heavy or compacted soil that drains slowly
- Frequent heavy rain, especially in spring and during summer storms
- Older homes with shallow or aging drainage systems
- Planting beds tucked close to the house, right where water tends to collect
When your basement walls and foundation area stay saturated, that water has to go somewhere. It can seep into your basement, or sit below your garden soil, or both. Plants that like steady but not soggy conditions, like many herbs and shrubs, may struggle in that environment.
A sump pump does one main thing: it gives water a controlled exit point. The pump sits in a pit, called a sump basin, that collects groundwater and any water directed to it through drain tile. When the water level reaches a certain height, the pump turns on and sends the water through a discharge pipe to a safe location outside the house.
If that discharge is planned well, you are no longer dealing with mystery wet spots around your foundation. You can direct the water somewhere safer. Maybe a dry well, a drainage swale, or even a planned rain garden farther from your basement walls.
Why garden lovers in Cherry Hill should care about sump pumps
You might be thinking, “I just want my hydrangeas not to rot. Do I really need to learn about sump pumps?” I think the honest answer is that you do not need to become an expert, but you should understand the basics, especially if you garden close to the house.
There are some clear reasons gardeners in Cherry Hill end up looking at sump pump installations:
1. Protecting roots from standing water
Roots need air. Waterlogged soil pushes out that air and can lead to root rot, fungus, and plain poor growth. You see it as drooping leaves and slow, sulky plants. Sometimes you might blame the plant variety, or fertilizer, when the real issue is that the soil just never gets a break from moisture.
If your garden beds along the house line stay wet long after the rest of the yard dries out, you might not just have a garden problem, you might have a drainage problem linked to your foundation.
By pumping water away from the house, a sump pump can help lower the water level in the soil near your foundation. That does not suddenly turn the area into a desert, but it can shift it from “always soggy” to “moist but workable,” which is a big difference for plant health.
2. Keeping your basement dry so you can store garden gear
Many gardeners use the basement for storage. Bags of soil, pots, fertilizers, tools, even bulbs overwintering in a cool, dark corner. If that space is damp or floods, you end up with rust, mold, ruined cardboard boxes, and maybe damaged tools.
A reliable sump pump supports a dry basement. That gives you more space to store:
- Seed starting shelves
- Grow lights
- Bulb crates
- Garden chemicals locked away from kids and pets
To me, that feels like a very practical advantage. The connection is indirect, but real. No one wants to carry every bag of potting mix in and out of a damp garage that smells bad after every rain.
3. Protecting hard work in landscape design
If you have invested in landscaping around your Cherry Hill home, maybe with shrubs, small trees, or a carefully planned perennial border, you have more to lose from poor drainage. Replacing mature plants is not cheap, and even if money is not the main issue, losing a plant you have watched grow for years can be frustrating.
When water frequently pools next to the foundation, it can erode soil and wash away mulch, exposing roots. Over time, that constant cycle shows up as bare spots, leaning plants, and erosion gullies. A sump pump, paired with other drainage upgrades, can help stabilize that area and protect what you have planted there.
Basic sump pump types gardeners should know
You do not need to be a contractor, but it helps to know the main categories. That way, when you talk with a waterproofing company or contractor, you can follow the conversation and ask better questions.
Pedestal vs submersible sump pumps
| Type | How it sits | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pedestal | Motor sits above the pit, out of the water | Often easier to service, sometimes longer motor life | Louder, more visible, may clog more if pit is dirty |
| Submersible | Motor sits inside the pit, under the water | Quieter, often more powerful, sealed, less in the way | Harder to reach, may be more expensive |
For most homes in Cherry Hill, submersible pumps are common, especially when the basement is used as living or storage space. The quieter operation matters if you spend time down there potting up seedlings or storing garden supplies.
Primary pump vs backup pump
A basic setup has one main pump. When that fails during a storm, you have a problem. That is why many homeowners install a backup:
- A second electric pump with a separate float
- Or a battery powered pump that kicks in during power outages
If you have a garden that depends on a mostly dry basement, a backup sump pump or battery system can be the difference between “annoying weather” and “total mess.”
Cherry Hill storms often come with strong winds and power loss. For a garden lover, that is a double hit: plants get battered, and at the same time your sump pump might stop. Planning for a backup is not overreacting; it is just matching what we know about local weather.
What sump pump installation usually involves
Many gardeners like to DIY. Raised beds, trellises, compost bins, that all feels doable and even fun. A full sump pump installation, especially in an existing basement, is a different scale of project. It often involves cutting concrete, installing drain tile, and drilling through walls for discharge pipes. I would say that most people are better off hiring a qualified waterproofing company for the main install.
Still, you should know what is happening in your house. The typical process for installing a sump pump in an existing Cherry Hill basement looks something like this:
1. Inspecting the basement and yard
Someone will walk the interior and exterior, look for signs of water entry, and check where water collects outside. They may look at gutters, downspouts, grading, and existing drains. If you have garden beds built up against the foundation, that may come up in the conversation.
This is a good time to speak up about your garden. Mention areas where plants struggle, where you see standing water, and where you prefer not to route discharge water.
2. Choosing the sump pit location
The pit usually goes at the lowest point of the basement floor, or in an area where water tends to collect. You also need access to an outlet and a way to run the discharge line out of the house.
If you use your basement as a potting area or storage room, you might want the pit and pump tucked in a corner that will not be in the way. It may not be the main factor, but it is worth mentioning.
3. Cutting and digging the pit
To create the sump basin, workers cut a hole in the concrete floor and dig down. The basin, usually a plastic or composite container, goes into that hole. Gravel may go around it to allow water to drain in.
This stage is messy, with dust and debris. If you keep garden supplies in the basement, it helps to move bags of soil, fertilizer, and tools away from the work area.
4. Installing drain tile around the perimeter
In many full systems, a perforated pipe, called drain tile, is laid around the inside edge of the basement, just below the floor. This collects water that seeps through the walls or under the footing and channels it into the sump basin.
From a garden perspective, that drain tile is the path that helps remove excess water from the soil right around your foundation. Without it, water might just sit against the wall, soaking the soil under your garden beds.
5. Setting the pump and discharge line
The pump goes into the basin, with a float switch that turns it on when the water reaches a set height. A pipe carries the water up and out through the foundation wall, and then across the yard to a discharge point.
Where that discharge ends is a major concern for anyone who cares about their yard and garden. You do not want the water dumping into the middle of a flower bed or right by a tree that already gets more water than it likes.
Planning sump pump discharge with your garden in mind
This is where the interest of a gardener and the interest of a basement waterproofing contractor sometimes do not match perfectly. The installer may think mainly about getting the water far enough from the house. You may care more about how that water will change the behavior of your yard.
I think it is okay to push for a plan that respects both goals: protect the house and protect the garden.
Good discharge options for garden-focused homeowners
These are common ways to handle sump pump discharge that usually work well for people who care about their yards:
- Dry well: A buried, gravel filled pit that receives the water and lets it slowly soak into the ground.
- Drainage swale: A shallow, graded channel that carries water safely to a lower part of the property.
- Rain garden: A planted area designed to capture and absorb runoff with deep rooted, water tolerant plants.
- Extended surface pipe: A solid pipe that carries water far from the foundation before releasing it.
Each of these has pros and trade-offs. For gardeners, a rain garden is often the most appealing, because it turns a problem into a planned feature. That said, a rain garden takes real planning and maintenance. If you are not ready for that, a dry well combined with a small swale may feel more straightforward.
Locations to avoid for discharge
Some spots around the yard are usually poor choices for sump pump discharge, especially for people who love plants:
- Directly into vegetable beds
- Near shallow rooted ornamental shrubs
- Close to property lines where water may run into a neighbor’s yard
- Areas that already stay wet most of the year
You may have to compromise a bit. The installer may say “this is the easiest run” for the pipe, and you may say “that is right into my favorite perennial bed.” Sometimes a longer run, or a different angle, can protect both the basement and your plants.
How sump pumps interact with soil and plant health
The link between a basement pump and plants in the yard might feel abstract. Here is a clearer way to think about it.
| Before sump pump | After sump pump |
|---|---|
| Water seeps into soil next to foundation and may stay there | Water is collected and removed from that zone more quickly |
| Soil near walls often stays wetter than the rest of the yard | Soil moisture along the house starts to match the rest of the yard more closely |
| Plants by the foundation often face root stress | Plants in that strip get a better balance of air and water around roots |
| Basement may leak or stay damp, limiting storage space for garden gear | Basement is more likely to stay dry and usable |
If your yard slopes toward the house, or if you have heavy clay soil that holds on to water, the effect of a sump pump can be more noticeable. That does not mean every plant near the house suddenly thrives, but the background conditions become more manageable.
Practical tips for gardeners planning a sump pump in Cherry Hill
If you are somewhere between “interested” and “overwhelmed” right now, here are a few concrete steps you can take.
Watch how water moves after a storm
The next time it rains hard, walk around your yard. Look at:
- Where puddles form and how long they last
- Which parts of the lawn drain first
- How close water comes to your foundation
- Any spots where mulch washes away
Pay special attention to areas with plants that often struggle. Do those areas match the spots that stay wet the longest? If yes, then improving drainage, including through a sump pump, might help more than another fertilizer or a different plant variety.
Be honest about DIY limits
It is tempting to treat every house project like a garden project. You dig a hole, add a pipe, maybe watch some videos, and trust that effort will fix the issue. With sump pumps and interior drain systems, mistakes can be expensive and hard to correct.
Installing the wrong size pump, sloping the discharge pipe poorly, or picking a bad discharge spot can all come back to haunt you. It is not defeat to say “this one needs a pro.” You can still handle simpler things yourself, like extending downspouts, adding surface drains, or planting that future rain garden.
Combine sump pumps with surface drainage work
A sump pump is not a full solution if the surface grading is wrong or if gutters are failing. Think of it as part of a set of tools.
At a minimum, check:
- Gutters and downspouts are clear and large enough
- Downspouts discharge at least several feet away from the foundation
- Soil slopes gently away from the house on all sides
- Low spots near the house are filled or reshaped
As a gardener, you have an advantage here. You are already used to judging soil texture, watching water, and thinking about root zones. Those same instincts apply when you look at how water travels through your yard and into your basement.
Choosing plants near a house with a sump pump
One interesting side effect of better drainage around your home is that you can pick a wider variety of plants near the foundation. Before, you might have ended up stuck with only water tolerant species. With more balanced moisture, you can think differently.
Plant categories to think about
- Moderate moisture lovers: Hydrangeas, astilbe, many hostas. These like steady moisture, but not “feet in water” all season.
- Tough shrubs: Boxwood, some viburnum varieties, spirea. These handle typical suburban conditions pretty well.
- Deep rooted perennials: Coneflower, black eyed Susan, some ornamental grasses. Deep roots help with soil structure.
I am not saying you can plant anything you want just because you added a sump pump. Local sun, wind, and soil still matter. But the risk of constant waterlogging near the foundation is lower once water is actually being collected and pumped away.
Common mistakes people make with sump pumps and gardens
Not every sump pump installation goes smoothly from a garden perspective. Here are some mistakes I have seen, or heard from other homeowners, that are worth avoiding.
Sending discharge into a favorite bed
This happens more often than it should. The installer finds the shortest path out from the basement, then turns the pipe down right into a planted bed, sometimes just a couple feet from precious shrubs. That bed then receives a blast of water after every storm and sometimes during snow melt.
If you have a bed you really care about, mark it and speak clearly about not using it as the discharge point. You may sound a bit picky, but that is alright. It is your garden.
Ignoring winter conditions
Cherry Hill winters bring freeze thaw cycles. If the discharge pipe is not sloped well or if water can sit in it, it can freeze. When it does, the pump may run but push against ice, which is not ideal.
Ice near a walkway or driveway is also a hazard. If you can, plan the discharge so that any overflow water in winter does not cross paths where people walk often.
Forgetting backup power for intense storms
Many of the worst basement floods happen during big storms, when power outages are also common. If you care a lot about keeping your basement dry, and by extension keeping your stored plants and garden gear safe, a battery backup or secondary pump is worth serious thought.
Without a backup, you may feel fine for years, then one storm changes your sense of security. That might sound a bit dramatic, but anyone who has thrown out boxes of moldy garden books after a flood will tell you it feels that way.
Working with a local expert as a garden focused homeowner
In Cherry Hill, there are several companies that focus on waterproofing and drainage. Some are more used to working with people who care about interior finishes and home value. Some are more used to dealing with people who, like you, talk about plants and soil almost right away.
When you speak with any contractor, you can bring up a few garden centered topics:
- Ask how the system will change water levels near your foundation beds.
- Ask where they recommend routing the discharge, and share which parts of your yard are most sensitive.
- Ask if they have installed systems that intentionally feed a rain garden or dry well.
- Ask about noise, since you may be in the basement starting seeds or potting up plants.
You are not being a difficult client if you protect your garden spaces; you are just making sure two parts of your home, inside and outside, work together.
You may not get perfect answers to every question. Some installers will be more practical or blunt. Still, putting your garden on the table early in the discussion raises the chance that the final design respects your priorities.
Short Q&A for garden lovers thinking about sump pumps
Is a sump pump only for houses that already flood?
No. Some homeowners install a sump pump as a preventive measure. If you see damp spots, smell mustiness, or notice very wet soil right against the foundation, that can be a sign to act before water shows up as visible flooding.
Can a sump pump hurt my garden?
Yes, if the discharge is poorly planned and dumps large volumes of water into a planted area. With a smart layout, it should actually help by reducing long term saturation near your foundation. The key is to choose the discharge point with both the house and plants in mind.
Will a sump pump fix every drainage problem in my yard?
No. It mainly handles water under or right next to the foundation. Low spots in the middle of the lawn, compacted soil, or poor grading farther from the house need other solutions like regrading, French drains, or soil improvement.
Is it worth talking to a waterproofing company if my main concern is my garden?
Yes, if your garden struggles line up with wet areas near the house or a damp basement. A good installer can address the water at the source, which gives your plants a better starting point. You can then fine tune the top layer of drainage and planting yourself.
Can I turn sump pump discharge into a rain garden project?
Often, yes. Many gardeners choose to route the discharge underground to a shallow basin planted with deep rooted, water tolerant plants. It takes planning and some digging, but it can turn an outlet pipe into a feature you actually enjoy looking at.
What is one simple step I can take today, before calling anyone?
After the next decent rain, walk around your house and yard. Notice where water sits, where it flows, and how your plants look in those spots. Take a few photos. Those observations will help you, and anyone you hire, make better decisions about drainage and any future sump pump work.
