Gutter Drains Away From Planter
Here's a gutter downspout that could be draining
into the planter, which would create a pool of water within the planter
if it rained hard enough. This pool of water eventually could start to
seep under the footings and foundation of the house, which could create
erosion problems.
This is an excellent idea for diverting the water away from the house
and onto the sidewalk. Keep in mind that the sidewalk could have cracks
or gaps which over time will absorb the excess water with the
possibility of enlarging them.
Even though the water is draining away from the planter and the home, it
could be creating problems for your sidewalks, landscaping and
driveways.
In a situation like this, I would rather drain the water away from the
home as much as possible. As a general rule of thumb, try to keep as
much of the water as possible, at least 3 feet away from the home, while
draining away from the structure.
It won't do you much good to drain the water away from the building five
feet, and then have the water drain back towards the house because the
slope in the soil is sloping towards the home, instead of away from it.
If this is the situation, you might consider some sort of drainage
system to divert the water safely away from the home.