A French drain is also called a weeper tile, re-routing water away from your basement, as well as helping to eliminate any freestanding water around your property. It is a perforated pipe installed in a trench, filled with gravel or rock.
The trench is around two feet wide and can be as deep as 5-6 feet. The pipe should always be installed in a way that it slopes from a higher elevation point to a lower end point, so the water flows out. Lay down three inches of gravel before installing the pipe.
Then lay down a filter fabric along the length of the trench before installing the pipe, which along with gravel helps to keep sand or soil from clogging the pipe.
Determine the proper route in your yard to dig the trench, free of any obstructions like gardens or trees.