How to Manage Standing Water in Your Yard

Water is the most important element of maintaining a lush, green lawn. However, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, and without proper drainage, you could end up dealing with pools of standing water throughout your yard. Correcting drainage issues should be a priority. Depending on the cause, you have multiple options, ranging from simple dethatching to installing a French drain. 

What Causes Standing Water 

Standing or pooling water in your yard kills your grass, leaving behind unsightly bare patches. Soggy spots can also become a breeding ground for mosquitos and cause damage to your home’s foundation. 

Pooling water can be caused by overwatering your lawn, which can be corrected by watering less often or for shorter durations.

However, if that’s not the issue, it’s likely a problem with drainage or low spots in your yard. These problems can often result from excessive thatch, or dead plant material that hasn’t decomposed. Soil that’s primarily clay, as opposed to sand or loam, is also more susceptible to standing water. 

Low spots in your yard are especially vulnerable to pooling water, regardless of the soil or plant growth. If the lawn isn’t graded properly, rainstorms can cause water to pool faster than it drains. This pooling can also cause more low spots to appear, which will only collect more water with every shower. 

Correcting the Issue

If your standing water is due to excessive thatch, dethatching and aerating the lawn should eliminate the issue. You can amend the dense soil by working in some organic matter like compost or manure to loosen it and allow more water to flow through.

For more severe problems, installing a French drain may be the best solution. This drainage system uses a graded trench to guide water away from your home. The trench is filled with gravel, and the water is directed toward a perforated drain pipe that allows the moisture to flow quickly.

Installing a French drain does require some planning, as the runoff needs a place to collect. You may need to install a dry well to manage the runoff, for example, so it doesn’t flow into storm drains or onto a neighbor’s property.

For help managing a standing water problem on your lawn, contact the landscaping experts at Buzz Landscaping Inc. in Conway, AR. They will design and install an effective solution to your water issues, including regrading and French drains. They also provide exceptional lawn maintenance, sprinkler system installation, and custom landscape design. With decades of experience, they can help make your yard beautiful and safe. Call (501) 730-4515 to schedule a consultation or visit their website for project photos.