Why Is There Standing Water in My Yard?

Standing water in your yard can create many problems. From minor inconveniences to serious damage, you can expect a range of issues to crop up if you don’t address the root cause of standing water in your property.

Soggy areas on your lawn will likely cause people and pets to track mud into your home. Grass will also struggle to grow properly in the areas covered in standing water — which then leaves these areas vulnerable to moss growth.

Puddles that don’t dry up quickly can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, making your yard unpleasant to spend time in. Lastly, excess water on your lawn can eventually affect your home’s foundation.

Typically, standing water is caused by either low spots in the yard or poorly draining soils. To give you a more comprehensive view of this issue, gutter installation expert Barry Best Seamless Gutters lists the most common causes of standing water in the lawn. We also share a few ideas on how you can fix this problem.

What Causes Standing Water in My Yard?

Below are some of the most common causes of standing water in lawns:

Non-Porous Soils

Water drainage on lawns mostly happens through the soil. That’s why soil type usually has a direct effect on drainage and might be the culprit that’s causing standing water. Loamy and sandy soils drain better than clay-heavy soils that trap water. Hard subsoil, or hardpan, is another type of soil that’s bad for water drainage. It’s basically a thick layer of soil that does not allow water through. This soil may come from natural causes in your environment, or it could be due to construction equipment densely compacting your yard. 

Improper Grading

Proper yard leveling or lawn grading enables water to drain away from your home and toward the street or sewer. If your landscape isn’t sloped properly, water will pool faster than it can drain. This water will likely accumulate in the low spots of your yard and may eventually find its way into your basement.

Thatch and Compaction

Thatch is a layer of organic matter that prevents water from seeping downward, causing it to collect on the surface. Thatch and other excess debris such as leaves, roots and grass clippings can make it more difficult for water to drain. 

Heavy Rain

Sometimes a storm produces a large amount of rainwater over a short period. This can create soggy conditions and saturate your yard with groundwater. If this happens often during rainy weather, you might want to have your property inspected for potential issues that may be causing the flood. 

Overwatering

In some cases, the problem could simply be overwatering. If you have an irrigation system and pools of water form every time you use it, you’re probably dealing with a drainage problem. You might want to water your lawn less often or for shorter periods to prevent standing water in your yard.

How Can I Improve Water Drainage?

Make sure to have a professional look into your property to identify the cause of your drainage problem. Once you’ve determined the reason why the water in your yard isn’t draining properly, here are a few potential solutions that you can try:

Install a French Drain

French drains are designed to direct water away from your home, preferably toward a storm drain or dry well. When water is directed to a dry well, it can gradually drain into the surrounding soil and contribute to the health of the soil. To help keep the dry well for a longer time, you can insert a plastic tub to hold the rocks and keep the soil out. This will allow the drainage system to maintain its efficiency.

To build a French drain, you have to dig a shallow trench with deep holes and rocks for drainage. Typically, the trench is filled with gravel, and a plastic perforated pipe is placed at the base of the trench.

Extend the Downspouts

Seamless gutters have a good design that makes them less prone to leaks than sectional gutters. However, you also need to pay attention to your downspouts. Make sure the downspouts are long enough to carry water a good enough distance away from your home. If you have a plant bed near your home and it is landscaped with rocks or a raised border, take note that this could trap the water from your gutters. If your downspouts are too short or are obstructed by a plant bed, you can extend your downspouts to ensure proper drainage.

Dethatch

Remove any blanket debris that may be preventing water from properly draining. You can use a dethatcher or a lawn raker to get rid of excess debris. Also, when mowing, try to use a bag or mulch feature to reduce heavy debris patches.

Re-grade

Hire a professional landscaper to assess your yard’s trouble spots, natural drains and channels. By doing this, you can pinpoint areas that need re-grading. It’s best to re-grade the area around your home before addressing standing water in other parts of your lawn.

Give Your Soil a Boost

In case of hard or sticky soil, you can try breaking it up with a rake or shovel. Then, add compost, manure or mulch onto the top of the soil to give it a boost.

Raise the Soil

If landscaping is a bit difficult because of a high water table, you can choose to create raised beds for your plants instead. Pick plants and flowers with shallow roots as these have a higher chance of surviving in standing water.

Build a Dry Creek

A French drain may not look good on your landscape. If you’re bothered by its appearance, you can create a dry creek instead. A dry creek is basically a path of rock or gravel that directs excess water into a dry well or storm drain. When creating a dry creek, make sure that the water won’t be diverted towards your neighbor’s property or a public sidewalk. 

How Can I Divert Water From My Foundation?

It’s common for standing water in the yard to cause pooling water near the home’s foundation. When this happens, it’s possible for cracks to form and the soil supporting the foundation to be removed. This can further lead to water damage once excess water from the seepage permeates through the walls of your basement.

To keep your foundation safe from standing water, try any of the solutions mentioned above. You can also use a catch basin or storm drain to remove excess water around your foundation. Lastly, consider installing a rain garden with water-loving plants that have deep fibrous roots. These plants will help conceal standing water in your yard and give the water more time to drain.

Get a Free Gutter Quote Today!

Barry Best Seamless Gutters is an established company that specializes in seamless gutter and heated gutter systems. We offer our services to residential and commercial clients, so you can count on us to accomplish your project regardless of size. Rest assured that you will be getting exceptional results and superb assistance. Call us at (315) 697-5000 or fill out our contact form to request a free quote. We serve customers in Canastota and Syracuse, NY.