Standing water in a yard can lead to a number of problems. Puddles provide mosquito breeding grounds, and soggy areas on the lawn means that pets and people are more likely to track mud into the house. Grass will not grow properly in lawn areas covered in standing water, leaving the area vulnerable to moss growth. Excess water can even lead to problems with your home’s foundation.
Here we present a few options to solve your issue:
Dry Wells
A dry well is little more than a large, deep hole filled with rocks. The water collects in the well and gradually drains into the surrounding soil. Many dry wells include perforated plastic tubs that contain the rocks and help keep out soil, which clogs the rock and reduces its draining capacity.
When designing a dry well, opt for a bigger one rather than smaller, although you can always re-dig a rock pit later if you conclude that it’s too small. A greater volume of runoff calls for a bigger rock pit, but volume is unpredictable because you never know how much rain you will receive in a given year. Four feet wide and deep is an average size for a dry well.
Create a dry creek
A dry creek is a path of rock or gravel that diverts excess water into a storm drain or dry well. Always divert your water toward a storm drain or dry well.
Install a French drain
The purpose of a French drain is to direct water away from your home. Simply dig a trench to direct the water toward the perimeter of your property, preferably near a storm drain or dry well, a shallow trench that has deep holes with rocks for drainage.
When water is diverted to a dry well, the water can gradually drain into the surrounding soil. To increase the longevity of the dry well, insert a perforated plastic tub to hold the rocks (the plastic tub keeps out soil to maintain the drainage system efficiency).
Fill the trench with gravel and place a plastic perforated pipe at the trench’s base and let gravity do the rest.
Stop watering too much
Overwatering your lawn can actually be a huge detriment and lead to standing water in your yard. Most professionals recommend that you DO NOT water your lawn everyday. Typically, once per week is acceptable since most lawns require about 1-1.5” of rain per/week. It is also best to water in the morning between 5 and 7 AM.
And here you go, a few ways to solve the extra water problem in your back yard. Good luck!