Since it looks like it is already coming apart, why not just demo the whole thing and do without?

If you want flowers in that specific location, you could always pose a planted container there.

As an aside, if the foundation is not secure enough to prevent water intrusion from any source, then it needs attention!! And sooner rather than later! It may just need waterproofing........

I recommend removing the planter. I think the planter collects water and releases the water against your house.

Demo it and be done with it.

When the snow melted it caused almost my entire basement to be flooded.

The soil next to the house was warmer, thawed sooner or was never frozen. So the melt took the path of least resistance. Through the warm soil vs through frozen soil.

The planter needs to be gone. The water intrusion is one reason. Subterranean termites is another if you live in any of the yellow or orange (obviously not red given 'the thaw') areas. (Yellow, not so much--I've lived in Central WI for over 20 years & haven't seen any evidence of termites so far.)

I suspect that water intrusion has been a problem in the past given the pitched concrete patching next to the house on the left side of the planter.

On a budget squeeze, I would remove the planter and patch the area with closely spaced pavers--perhaps using the planter stones if they clean up easily. Be sure that the pavers pitch down towards the driveway. Make sure that the gutters & downspouts are clear, especially before winter. And keep snow cleared away from the house during the winter.

I just noticed what looks like water in the plant saucer on the blacktop. Looks like the paving is pitched towards the house? IF that is the case, you have another large contributing factor to the wet basement.

Yeah our pave and flower bed is tilting towards the house more than it is to the streets. I may do what you guys said and demo the flower bed. Unless it's repairable for less than 5k which I doubt it is.

Thank you for the information, I'm not so good with landscaping and home improvement ordeal. first thing is to demo the flower bed, what other steps are needed to get the pave facing towards the street?

I don't see any weep holes in the brick. Either they're covered up by concrete or they're not there. I'd remove the planter and the concrete all along the house, dig down maybe 12", and plan on an impervious liner, gravel, and perforated pipe to intercept water and take it away. I'd make the decision about proper depth after the first removals and seeing where weep holes are. Is it possible this whole area has been raised up over the years?

The flower bed is falling apart, and needs to go, sorry. Once you have it removed, you will see what all needs to be done, to slant the water away from the house. Right now, all that water is running right into your basement. Those planters right next to a house are never a great idea anyway.

thank you for all the advice everyone. I will try and get the flowerbed demolish asap and take pictures. I believe the previous owner had two cherry blossom trees in front planted and the roots went underneath the porch. causing the flowerbed to drop. I could be 100% wrong but it just my take from seeing the giant tree in front.

If thats the case, you could have foundation problems too. Tree roots can cause a lot of damage to the foundations of houses. Also check your gutters to make sure they are not overflowing right there. Make sure they are clean, and that you have enough downspouts, so they do not overflow.

Gutters are cleaned and has hangers. If the foundation is damage would clearing the flowerbed first and somehow slant the pave to the street at least fix the flooding first? Or should I call a foundation company and have that particular wall fix?

Also see where the gutter downspouts are discharging the water- make sure that it is far enough away from the house and flows away from the house. I would definitely remove the planter and try to make sure all hard surfaces slant away as my first step.

I had to do this - my cement patio was tilted toward the house, and I was having water seep in there as well as in the front where the ground had settled the same way. One day I had water flowing across the basement floor! I had to have the patio removed, the area regraded, then I installed a paver patio with proper drainage; then also removed heavy shrubs in the front, regraded, then put down an impervious barrier up the foundation and out 4 feet from the wall and built a 16" raised bed with a dry stack rock wall. Filled it with good draining soil. No more water on the interior walls. I do have a sump pump because we have a high water table - it runs when we have heavy rains.

If the foundation is damaged - like bowing, tilting, unstable, concrete falling apart - you have to have it fixed, no question.

If your foundation is concrete block and you have water seeping through it, removing the pressure of water flowing toward and into it, and making sure it flows away (the best way is as Seabornman described) might be all you need. Also, a few thin cracks in the mortar between the blocks is not necessarily an indication that you need foundation repair.

There are companies that specialize just in foundation drainage, not interior basement work; might be a more cost effective option for you if you decide that you need it.

I too, had a brick patio issue, slanted back towards my house. contractor had to bust up the bricks, and grade cement away from my back door and foundation towards the back yard. Unfortunately, damage had already been done. My entire living room floor ended up being rotten (water seeped under the back door for years) and contractor had to tear it all out. I came home on day one of the project and he was literally standing in my crawl space right in the living room. What a mess!! Good luck. Interested in how you make out. (P.S. Bye-bye, flowerbed!!)

Find someone to do concrete slab lifting to pitch the paved areas properly.

@User May I ask you how much did you pay for everything?

It's been a while and I had so much done at the same time that it's hard to remember how much just for the concrete patio and floor issue. But if I had to make an estimate, I think that part was around $4k. The original quote I think was $3,200 (just for that) but then he ended up having to replace the entire subfloor. And then I couldn't put the original hardwood back because it had mold on the bottom. YUCK! So he replaced my entire subfloor and installed my new flooring in the entire house (1,500 sq. ft) for the extra $800 (I bought the flooring separately). He said it looked worse than it was but I was like...."Um, you're standing in my crawl space IN MY LIVING ROOM!" I think he may have felt sorry for me. 🤣

For context, the bottom of my patio used to be brick and water would pool at the back door (badly) for days after a rain. He busted up the bricks and poured concrete and it looks great!! (I was skeptical.) Never had a problem since. And it's raining right now so clear to see how the rain doesn't even touch it now.