Backyard flooded? Here’s a simple drainage solution that might be perfect for your yard.

Have you ever walked into your backyard after a hard rain to discover a pond, that you didn’t intend to build, taking over the yard? Lack of drainage can become a big problem for homeowners, especially during the rainy season. Some areas in the backyard may become flooded from rain fall, or are constantly soggy due to a poor landscape design. Standing water poses a big threat by breeding mosquitoes and drowning sod or other plant life. A water-sodden lawn could quickly suffer from lack of oxygen or excessive growth of fungus.The best solution for a problem like this is to add some sort of drainage to evacuate the excess water immediately.

Adding drainage to a backyard does not have to be a complicated project. One drainage solution might be installing dry-wells in the areas that tend to get the most water. A dry well is simply a deep hole filled with gravel to allow water to reach a more permeable soil. If you think this might be an option for your own yard, then follow these few steps to drainage happiness.

Step 1 Locate the problematic low spots that tend to build up with water after a heavy rain or just the soggy spot that seems to collect all the sprinkler water.

Step 2 Dig a hole (or holes depending on how much water needs to be removed) about 12” in diameter and about 3’-4’ deep. Some holes might need to be deeper depending on the condition of the soil. Loose, sandy soil allows water to drain quicker than soil that is hard-packed or clay-bound. The goal is to keep digging until you reach the loose soil.

Step 3 Fill the hole with 1.5” Drain Rock (gravel) up to about 3” below the grass. This rock, of course, can be purchased from Buck’s at $48.98/cubic yard. One cubic yard could fill up approximately 8 drainage holes.

Step 4 Place a fabric barrier over the top of the gravel and place no more than 2″ of dirt or sod to disguise the hole. The dirt or sod will hide the drain but still allow water to get through.