Coping With A Waterlogged Lawn
A waterlogged lawn;is a very fragile thing and can be completely destroyed in a few minutes by heavy boots or an quick game of football. This post is to just take a look at why the a wet lawn is susceptible to damage, how to prevent it, and how to bring it back if it does end up turning into a mud bath!
The majority of the UK has experienced an extremely damp start to 2014. With record rainfall levels and flooding affecting a lot of the South East.
Build A French Drain Or Dig A Trench
If your lawn is very waterlogged and youre looking for a permanent solution, you may like to dig a drainage ditch or trench. If you have a sewerage system, drain or gutter in your yard, you can dig a channel to transport the water to the drain. This will help to remove excess water from your yard and keep it dry in the long run.
You can line your drain using landscape fabric and partially fill it with gravel. Next, cover the drain back up with soil and either lay sod on top or reseed. A French drain allows you to move the water underground, and it wont affect the appearance of your yard.
Heres how to build a French Drain: ; or HGTV
Rain Garden With Flowers
Rain gardens earn their keep, catching rain water runoff from roofs, driveways and lawns. A well-designed rain garden holds runoff long enough so it can soak into soil, instead of running into storm sewers. It also helps clean rain water runoff by removing up to 90 percent of fertilizer nutrients and up to 80 percent of sediments. Best of all, a rain garden can look gorgeous while effectively handling storm water runoff. This rain garden design features strong summer and fall color, with gold black-eyed susan, purple Russian sage, purple coneflower and rose-pink Autumn Joy sedum.
RainDogDesigns.com/wordpress
Sometimes its either not feasible to solve a large drainage problem, or its too costly. When that happens, it might be time to consider an alternate landscaping choice. There are lots of options for native plants that thrive in soggy areas and that create a habitat for birds, frogs, insects and all kinds of wildlife that depend on them for food and shelter. Rain gardens can soak up tremendous amounts of water, are easy to care for and provide hours of enjoyment for homeowners. Check out some of HGTV’s favorite rain gardens for inspiration and tips for building your own.
Dealing with Drainage02:09
Recommended Reading: How To Kill Violets In The Lawn
How To Drain A Lawn
If your lawn gets waterlogged easily after rain, this can be extremely frustrating, especially if the water is very slow to drain as the weather dries up.
Fortunately, if you live in a wet part of the UK, and your lawn doesnt drain easily, there are steps you can take to fix this issue.
In this guide, weve looked at temporary, as well as more permanent methods of draining water from grass and soil.
Uneven Lawn Sprinklers Spray Patterns
Are you wondering why your lawn sprinkler is not distributing water evenly? Did you notice that the sprinkler misses some spots? If yes, then it could be a sign that your sprinkler controller is faulty. Besides, it could also mean indicate that the sprinkler has a broken head that needs to be replaced or repaired. Hence you need to call a lawn sprinkler repairer.
Also Check: Gnat Fogger Home Depot
What To Do With A Waterlogged Lawn
Constant puddles dotting your lawn is a symptom of a much larger soil condition called compaction. As soil particles move closer together through heavy foot traffic and improper yard care, air pockets disappear and suffocate grass roots. Water on the soil surface has no space to percolate into the ground, and the result is a waterlogged lawn. Repairing your wet lawn requires specific steps to reduce grass die-back and improve soil drainage.
Check Drainage System For Leaks
If your yard is wet and muddy, even when there are no rains, then there must be a problem with your yard and you must determine the issue. One of the main reasons for a wet yard could be because the drainage system in your yard is poor.
The drainage also depends on the type of soil in your yard. If the soil in your yard is too rocky or compacted, it will not be able to absorb the water properly, affecting proper drainage.
Another cause for the accumulation of water in your yard could be the slope of the lawn. If your lawn is level or the center is slightly lower than the sides, this will cause the water to collect. Get an engineer or a plumber to check the drainage system of your home.
Check if the water flowing from the downspouts when it rains is carried to the drainage pipe or if it spills into the yard creating a wet and muddy pool.
Read Also: Does Lowes Deliver Lawn Mowers
Understand Why Your Lawn Is Waterlogged
Water logging occurs when you have too much water and not enough drainage in the soil to deal with it. This might be due to clay, or very compacted soil, or a poor root structure in your lawn. Is your lawn surrounded by a large non-draining area, drive, patio etc, giving the absorbent grass area too much work to do?;
In the case of a small grass lawn in the middle of a large non-draining area, consider ways to reduce the amount of water that gets to the ground. Water butts can be used effectively to collect rain from any roof that would otherwise direct water onto the non-absorbing areas and then onto your lawn.;;;
Permeable paths, drives and patios are also an option to increase the drainage area. Bark, shingle or concrete mesh options are available, providing an ecologically friendly way to improve drainage and reduce the risk of lawn water-logging.
Soil testing can also be helpful to understand the cause of the flooding. This will not only help you better understand the nature of your soil, but also what nutrients your soil might be missing, to aid your lawn in building a stronger root structure.
The Problem With Puddles
Puddles often form due to overages of storm water being shed off the roofline and into downspouts. While thats ultimately their goal, the quick collection of water overwhelms and oversaturates any areas of the ground beneath the spout with clay-like, non-porous soil or a slope that does not encourage water drainage. The resulting puddles near the foundation or slab are potentially harmful, especially over an extended period of time. In such cases, the puddling isnt something to ignore its a problem that needs solving as soon as possible. Its also a major issue for your plants and grass, as long-standing puddles drown grass and oversaturate plants.
Recommended Reading: Adding Oil To Lawn Mower
How To Fix A Waterlogged And Muddy Yard Fast
It can be annoying and inconvenient to have a yard thats wet and muddy, especially if you have children or a dog. If youre sick of mud being traipsed inside your home or often find muddy paw prints on your carpet, its time to take action. Grasses growing in muddy or waterlogged yards will be more prone to fungus development and disease. In the worst case, grass will wither and die. This article will tell you how to fix a waterlogged and muddy yard.
Is your yard often wet and muddy? Do you struggle to get grass and plants to grow due to waterlogging? Have you noticed puddles that always seem to be in certain areas? Having a wet, muddy and waterlogged yard is a sign that you have a drainage problem.
How To Limit Damage To A Waterlogged Lawn
The main thing to do is STAY OFF A WATERLOGGED LAWN! This cannot be stressed enough. Any pressure on wet soil squeezes out more air which then cannot be replaced and the result will be a very compacted and dead soil.
The second thing you need to address is drainage. If you find that you regularly have a waterlogged lawn, even in times when other parts of the garden are not suffering, then you need to look at improving this for the long term.
Things to consider;are:
Read Also: How To Kill Creeping Charlie In Lawn
How To Get Rid Of Landscape Puddles
The issue of standing water in the yard is a common problem that property owners all over the country face, regardless of their location and the size of their property. There are various reasons for the formation of puddles, and one of the ways to solve the problem is to understand the why behind it. Regardless of that why, however, the simplest solution is generally the same: landscape drains. Landscape drains are extremely important for maintaining the health of your landscape as well as the health of your soil, in addition to protecting your homes foundation. Due to the different types of drainage systems and solutions, its best to consult a professional landscaping maintenance company to determine the best option for your property before tackling a project on your own.
Installing A French Drain
The first thing that you can do is install a French drain in your yard. A French drain is a kind of trench that is filled with gravel or rocks.
It also has a pipe full of holes that is capable of redirecting the water from the ground or the surface from a specific area, such as your yard. It can also be used for keeping water out of your garden.
The French drain follows a pretty basic concept: water is always going to flow downhill, and will usually take the easiest route available.
Therefore, the gradient of the French drain should be about an inch after every seven to eight feet, and should be focused toward the direction of the flow too.
This will provide a convenient channel for the water to flow. The water will first pass through all of the rocks or the gravel and then into the pipes.
The perforated pipes can then empty out at a safe distance away from your yard. If you want to improve the drainage, you can always add an artificial turf or a covering to prevent water buildup.
You can always bury the pipes in the polished rocks to improve the aesthetic appeal of the French drain.
Read Also: Does Harbor Freight Sell Lawn Mower Tires
Standing Water In Yard
If water stands in your yard for hours or even days after a moderate rain, you have poor drainage, which can be caused by heavy, compacted soils or improper grading. If this occurs near your homes foundation, it can lead to nasty moisture issues in your basement or crawlspace. Fortunately, a French drain or re-grading the property can usually solve this problem.
Common Causes Of Yard Drainage Issues
There are several factors that can lead to a yard failing to vacate excess water properly. Different causes of yard drainage problems can call for different solutions and DIY approaches. The following are some of the most common reasons your yard may be draining poorly.
- Yard slope or pitch: In many cases, water pools in a yard because the soils flat plane doesnt divert enough water away from the house.
- A too-short downspout: If your gutters downspout points directly into a flower bed or other landscaped area, excess water can collect in the mulch and soil beneath.
- Impacted soil: This can be a result of construction projects, such as in-ground pools, around the house. Hardpan clay is especially problematic when impacted, as it can retain moisture for far longer than other types of soil.
- Front walkways: If a sidewalk or concrete path sits in front of your house, it could be blocking off water, preventing it from running through your yard and into the storm drain.
- Runoff erosion: If the runoff from your downspout has stripped away some of the topsoil in your yard, this can lead to heavy collection beneath the eroded area.
Read Also: How To Get Clover Out Of My Lawn
How To Fix Common Problems With Lawn Sprinklers
Lawn Sprinklers can be a friendly tool until it develops a fault, and then it gets you frustrated. That moment, you want to call a lawn sprinkler repairer to drop by at your home and fix it.;
In this blog post, you will learn the common problems with sprinkler, and how to fix them. Lawn sprinkler repair can be complicated; if this is the first time you encounter an issue like this, this blog post promises to teach you simple ways on how to go about repairing them.
How Do I Know If I Have A Waterlogged Lawn
An excessively waterlogged lawn is very easy to spot. If you have had a lot of rain over a number of weeks then you may start to notice that the tips of the grass will start to turn yellow. This is a sign that the roots are struggling to breathe and the plant is pulling in its reserves to try and prevent death. Grass is extremely hardy and can survive for a number of days flooded, but will certainly perish if underwater for any prolonged period.
If you step on the lawn you may also notice the soil feels squelchy underfoot and water does not drain away from the surface. In severe cases there maybe puddling on the soil. This is all a symptom of poor drainage, with the water not being able to escape quickly enough into the sub-soil or run off.
You May Like: When To Fertilize Lawn In Iowa
How Much Does It Cost To Install A Lawn Drainage System
The drainage system in your lawn depends on the specifics of your lawn: the landscape, the proximity to your house, your type of soil and grass, among other factors. In Canada, these are the estimated price ranges for the 3 most common lawn drainage systems installed in landscapes:
- A simple 75 ft long French drain can cost between $4,000 and $6,000. Additional complications and specifications to the system, such as length, obstacles, and distance to discharge zone, can bring the costs to $10,000/$20,000.;
- A perimeter and downspout drain system around a 40 ft x 50 ft residential home can cost between $10,000 and $50,000. The more complications to the system, the higher the price.;
- Lawn regrading costs between $3,000 and $4,000. This applies to a 5000 sq. ft. lawn but may cost more if your landscape is larger in size.;
Costs definitely vary between companies, so make sure to talk to your landscaping service of choice so you can explore your lawn drainage system options. While the prices all look costly, a lawn drainage system is definitely a good investment for your home, especially if you live under climate conditions that run the risk of flooding your area in most parts of the year.
Our Address
Dig A Creek Bed Or Swale
If you have a soggy spot in your yard that a downspout extension cant fix, you may need an artificial creek or drainage swale to draw water away from low spots. These projects usually involve digging the soil into a long, shallow trench and filling it with gravel and decorative rocks. Assuming your yard has the right downward slope, this installation will essentially act as a slide for runoff to escape through.
An added bonus to this project is that even when its not in use, a dry man-made creek can be an attractive addition to your landscaping.
Tools youll need: Trench-digging tools such as shovels and spades, gravel, rocks and a method for disposing of excess dirt.
Recommended Reading: Herbicide For Wild Violets
How To Fix A Muddy Yard
Whether the cause of your muddy yard is a rainy climate or a couple of active dogs, there are ways to get the situation under control so you can enjoy your lawn again. With a little creative landscaping, you can prevent excess water from pooling where you dont want it and create space for walking, playing or socializing.
Cause #: Lawn Equipment
Sometimes, lawn equipment can be a major source of standing water in a home. Water can pool in lawn equipment thats left outside after a storm. In most cases, this is due to wheelbarrows left out on the open, or water pooling in tarps covering equipment.;
Most people dont realize how much water canpool in their lawn equipment! In most cases, the standing water will evaporaterelatively quickly and will not be a matter of concern. However, if you had aparticularly bad flood, the standing water might not evaporate entirely on itsown.
You May Like: Best Weed Killer For Thistles
How To Divert Water From Your Foundation
Problems with standing water in the yard can cause water to pool near your homes foundation. It can cause cracks and remove the soil that supports the foundation, leading to fissures in your walls. Excess water from this seepage can also permeate through the concrete walls in your basement, leading to water damage.
There are several ways to divert water from your foundation:
- Extend your gutters downspouts.
- Add a French drain system or dry creek.
- Regrade your yardMeasure from where your foundation meets the soil and go 10 feet straight out from that mark. At the 10-foot mark, your yard should be six inches lower than your starting point at the homes foundation.
- Reroute water thats not draining properly near your sidewalk.
- Prevent water from seeping into your basement by installing a creek bed to divert water to a dry well.
- Use a catch basin or storm drain to drain excess water from around your foundation.
- Add a rain garden. Choose water-loving plants with deep fibrous roots that grow well in your local area. This will help conceal standing water in your garden and give the water time to drain.
If you see standing water in your yard, dont ignore it. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repairs will be. Do your best to identify the cause and if youre not sure whats causing the standing water, call a local landscaper or contractor who specializes in removing standing water.
