Water will always drain downhill. Taking the path with the least resistance. To solve a drainage issue, you must observe the water movement in your yard.
Observe the low area spots. Sometimes you may not see a lot of water on the surface. Test out to see if it’s hiding underground.
A simple way to test it out. It is to dig a hole 18 inches deep and about 12 inches wide. In the wet area. Then fill the hole with water.
The water should drop steadily and be completely drained after 24 hours. If there is still water standing after one day. Repeat the test several weeks later.
This will help determine if you have a seasonal drainage issue. Or a year-round wet soil challenge.
Find out how the yard stays wet. Consider the moisture levels of the soil throughout the seasons. Also, how quickly water dissipates after a big rain.
Lack of sunshine and poor soil drainage are some of the causes of a soggy lawn. As well as the downspouts, gutters drain out.
Over time the water kills grass when it sits on it for a while. The stagnant water is also a haven for breeding mosquitoes. As well as other critters in your yard.
It’s a messy, inconvenient nuisance. That is visually unappealing.
The easy way out is to improve the drainage in your soil. Is to get organic matter. It gives more aggregate to your soil. Through feeding it with organisms. Which in turn enriches the soil.
When your soil builds aggregate, it soaks up less water. Especially if you have clay soil. It will reduce its impact and influence on what you grow significantly.
The result will have a lawn that is porous. Enough to allow water to pass through hence eliminating sogginess.
You can also improve the drainage of the soil using sand. Especially if your soil has a high content of clay. This means it compacts when it rains. Thus poor drainage.
Begin by mowing your grass short. Do this during the cool season.
Then put sticks around the wet areas with small holes. To be able to aerate the area. Put sand first in the holes before spreading it to the other areas.
You have to be careful while spreading the sand. To avoid smothering the grass. Ensure the grass blades are uncovered. Water will drain better in those areas with sand.
The other way would be to mix dry topsoil with sand. At equal measures. The grass will slowly begin to grow through the soil.
In general, sand provides a new substrate that fills the muddy area. Repeat pouring every 4 weeks as needed until the lawn is leveled.
Mulch can also be used by itself. A mixture of wood chips, dried leaves, and coarse organic matter. It is best used if you cover up an area around the perimeter.
Another quick method would be pumping the water. However, this method will only work if there is a lot of standing water.
Place the pump at the low spot of your yard. Where water has collected. Then drain the water into a dry well.
If the addition of sand, as well as organic matter, does not solve the sogginess. Opt for a french drain.
Before digging it out. Correct any problems that may be occurring with the drainage system. Do a visual inspection to check for blocked drains or pipes.
Check for connections that may have come apart. Between pipes, gutters, and drains. Something as simple as a roof runoff could cause sogginess in the yard.
Secondly, check the location where the gutters end. They might need improvement if they do soaking the yard’s vital parts. Like the entryway to your front yard. Or a new flower bed.
These are common places for water to escape the planned drainage system.
Clear out any debris like leaves, grass clippings, and mulch. That may be blocking the flow of the water away from your home.
if the issue persists, dig out a trench. The location is dependent on the discharge of water and gravity.
The trench should be wide enough to fit an eight-inch pipe than more by ½ inch. It will make your work easier. When filling it with gravel.
You will also know the height you need to go down to. While making it easy to put the sod back in.
In case you have sod, begin by removing it. Then place it where it can be reused. Start digging the trench from the low side. Then work your way back up.
This way, you will not run out of slope or fall. To establish the overall grade, use a lever. As long as the bubble is on the high side. You are good.
When the trench is ready, wrap the fabric on it. An example is the Geotextile drainage fabric. It allows water to pass through it, but dirt will not.
After rolling it out, walk on it. This will ensure the fabric sits well both on the ground and the sides. You can also hold it on the sides with pins.
Then lay your corrugated perforated pipe. Corrugated, meaning it has ridges. While perforated, it has four slits around it to let water in.
Remember to put a catch basin on the low spots. Put risers on them so that the surface water can drop in them. It should be just a little bit below the grade of the yard.
Or use a sump pump. Which is used to pump out excess water. Hence preventing flooding.
A Tee comes in handy if water is draining from two different directions. If not, you can use a gutter connector. Water will drain without backing up into the drain.
Before pouring in the gravel. Put patio pavers to hold the pipe in place. This way, there will be plenty of stones on either side and at the top of the pipe.
While choosing gravel, go for the round stones if possible. They leave bigger voids for water to flow through.
Wrap one fabric over the other. Pull it nice and tight. As long as you have enough overlap, it will hold with pins. Ensure that there are not too many gaps.
If you have sod, put it back on top. Then water it. However, if you have done nothing with your yard, you can opt to fill it with gravel.
After establishing an overall grade. Put gravel from the trench area about 3-4 inches deep. This depth will discourage the weeds from anchoring their roots.
Therefore you might not need a weed fabric. The gravel is easy to remove and put back. You can easily uproot the weeds. Which have no root system.
If the water flows through to the sidewalk. Put drainage through to the curb. It will discharge the water to the road.
Another option would be building a contract creek bed. It will help channel water away from the low spots. Into a rain garden. Or a dry well. Where the water percolates into the soil.
It’s often shallow, with its surface lined with gravel and stones. Boulders and native plants are used to line the sides. Giving it an aesthetic appeal.
The creek bed is effective with drainage. As well as a form of landscaping. Once constructed, it requires very little maintenance.
More importantly, adding creek beds that wind their way around. It will give the excess water a place to move along the surface of your yard.
Installing a dry well could also deal with the mud in your yard. It consists of a perforated plastic barrel. Which is buried at least 4 feet underground.
Stones should surround the barrel. That allows water to disperse from it into the ground. A layer of landscape fabric is laid to cover the stones. As well as prevent soil from clogging them.
An overflow emitter is often left at the top of the barrel. To allow excess water from rainfall to escape.
A 4-inch wide PVC is used to direct water from the downspouts into the barrel. Hence leaving your lawn dry.
Pipes are then laid inside a 1-foot-deep trench. With slopes a ¼ inch per foot towards the hole. This is a permanent solution and will allow water to flow freely.
The size of your yard will determine the size and number of dry wells.
Creeper plants are a visually appealing solution to cover the mud. They are ground-covering plants that grow very fast. As well as thrive in soggy areas.
The creepers have delicate and fragile items. Therefore plant them away from the footpath. They will trap excess water in one place. Which will then be used by the plants.
This method is affordable and eco-friendly. You can even score one from a neighbor or friend. They require very minimal maintenance. Moreover, they can blossom into beautiful and colorful flowers once fully grown.
This is where the rain garden comes in. Till the area and add garden soil with compost. Let it sit for a few days to see if what you added is enough. And add if needed.
Another more elaborate solution would be to create a pond or a water garden. This will probably require some professional help. Because the land will have to be carefully sculpted.
To hold enough water in the area. A water garden has the advantage of wildlife naturally gravitating towards the water. For drinking or bathing. Especially birds such as the mockingbird.
A water garden would be especially handy if you install a drain tile. It is a labor-intensive solution to altering a yard with poor drainage.
Attention to detail is key to success in installing a drain tile. From the slope to the tile depth and where the water will outlet.
If you have patches of mud in your yard. You can fix it by overseeding. Just prepare the soil. Then spread the seed and water consistently.
Laying gravel to cover mud is also effective. Gravel is capable of handling heavy foot traffic. If there is lots of mud, lay the foundation first.
Which consist of crushed rocks. Which will act as a separator of wet mud and gravel. You can use it to fill the low spots as well. Then put gravel on top.
Building a pathway would make muddy areas remain undisturbed. The material you will need is pea gravel or bricks. Before placing them on bare soil, level the ground first.
This can be done by adding 3 inches of sand. Not only will it offer support, but it will also keep the ground dry. Through absorbing moisture. Hence keep the bricks firmly to the ground.
If not a pathway, you could opt to create a patio. Especially if the mud is in front of your door. As with all other ground covers, begin by leveling out the area.
Then apply a layer of sand and crushed rock. They will absorb water. As well as form a level substrate to place your pavers.
Once you have laid the pavers. Cover them with sand. Then use a broom to sweep the sand into all the joints.
On that note, if you already have a walkway made of pavers. Consider a quick rehab to remove the pavers. Then alter the material underneath to create a slope.
Note that this slope does not have to be drastic. You should not feel as though you are falling. Or leaning sideways while walking up to your front door.
Just make sure things are ever so slightly off-kilter. This will be enough to move water naturally off the surface. While preventing puddles.
If not pavers, use concrete. Especially if you have a small yard. You can transform it into a mini court for kids. Or a reading area. Or a place for drinks and barbeque with friends. Use a french drain here as well.
However, if the elevation is too high. You should consider grading your yard. If your yard is not properly graded, it can result in holes. Like potholes on the road, they will end up holding water.
Sometimes your yard could be muddy because you have haphazardly installed plant beds. Such that you have impeded the natural flow of water.
This means water is not moving in the direction it was designed to. So it is pooling in your plant beds. This is especially true if your yard is on any hill or slope.
To fix this, ensure you use a site level. To accurately calculate the slope. That is necessary to move water downhill effectively.
Alternatively, you can install a retaining wall to prevent drainage problems. With this option, you will require a professional.
In conclusion, drainage plans should be integral to your landscape design. Components like the french drain, catch basin, and sump pump can be used to create a drainage system.
The sooner you solve your drainage problems. The sooner you will get rid of muddy areas. As well as prevent even more serious problems.