Standing water that does not drain from your yard properly can drown your plants and grass. In addition to reducing your home’s external appearance, standing water will also prevent you from being able to enjoy spending time in your yard due to the inhospitable surface. Fortunately, there are several ways that you can rid your yard of water buildup to improve its appearance and functionality. If your yard turns into a temporary lake every time it rains, consider trying out these tips on how to reduce standing water in your backyard.
Use a Skid Steer to Re-Grade Your Yard
One potential cause of standing water in one’s yard is improper lawn grading. If a yard isn’t graded properly, water won’t be able to drain from the lawn into the street or storm sewer. Instead, it will sit on the lawn and begin to pool.
To improve the slope of your landscaping so that rainwater runs off of it effectively, consider using a skid steer to re-grade it. If your yard’s surface is very wet and muddy, it is best to rent a skid steer with tracks rather than tires. A skid steer with a bucket attachment will allow you to remove large rocks, shave down high and low points, build up dirt around your home’s foundation, and then grade all areas with the flat part of the bucket. Doing so should help prevent water from accumulating in the future.
Remove Heavy Thatch
In addition to the grade of your lawn, proper drainage also depends on how permeable your yard is. If your lawn isn’t permeable enough, water will collect on its surface rather than seeping into the earth.
One way to increase your yard’s permeability and reduce standing water is to remove heavy thatch. To get rid of any grass clippings, leaf buildup, or other blanket debris that has accumulated, simply use a dethatcher, vertical mower, or lawn rake.
Install a French Drain
Another tip on how to reduce standing water in your backyard is to install a French drain. A French drain is a type of comprehensive drainage system that consists of a trench filled with either gravel or rock and has a perforated pipe at its base.
The purpose of a French drain is to redirect the flow of surface water and ground water away from an area. When installed in low spots in the yard, these inexpensive and easy-to-install drains can help direct water from your home to the perimeter of your property. In doing so, they can effectively reduce the accumulation of standing water in your yard.
Implement Dry Wells
Implementing dry wells in your yard is also an effective method of reducing standing water in your lawn. A dry well is a porous-walled chamber with a grate on top that is installed underground beneath low-lying areas of your lawn. It is designed to help dispose of unwanted water by collecting it through the grate, storing it in the chamber, and then slowly releasing it into the surrounding soil through the porous walls so that it can fully absorb without pooling.
