Question
My neighbor's downspout directs rainwater into our backyard. I have dug about an 8 foot trench a few inches wide and deep that leads to a drain that runs the length under my patio and out of the yard.  This setup works well when it rains, as the water simply flows into the trench toward the drain and all is normally fine.  Unfortunately, the trench is an ugly looking thing in the middle of my back yard, so I'm wondering what I can do to make it less unsightly yet not affect its usefulness for funneling water to the drain.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Joe

Answer
Turn your trench into a swale which is a gentle sloped ditch that is less ugly and can be grassed or plated. Instead of a thing trench taper the sides of the trench to a couple of feet from the center so the trench is almost imperceptible.

Another option is a buried pipe with a landscape area drain at the receiving end to catch the water.

You could also do a "french drain" which is essentially a gravel filled trench than can be covered.

Lastly you could turn the trench into a "dry stream" bed and fill it with decorative rocks and plants.

Best of Luck