Standing water is usually sparked by two common problems: poorly draining soil and low spots in the yard.
Heavy foot traffic can also compact soil, leading to poor drainage.
Luckily a little elbow grease can solve the problem of water pooling in your yard.
David Beaulieu
Clay traps water whereas loamand sand, especiallyare known for their sieve-like qualities.
The Solution
Amend clay in the soil with organic matter.
This will break up those problematic clay barriers in the soil profile.
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In extreme cases, you may need to remove your current lawn and start over again.
Lawn thatch and compaction are also enemies of good drainage because they form barriers that trap water.
This is more important to fix than dealing with water pooling elsewhere in the yard.
AFrench drainis a gravel-filled trench that slopes down toward a suitable exit point.
Most French drains include a perforated plastic drain pipe, called drain tile, to move excess water quickly.
An exit point for the water may be a storm drainas appropriateor a dry well installed on the property.
Adry creekis a path of gravel and rock that is made to look like a natural dry creek bed.
These tend to be more aesthetically pleasing than a French drain but typically do not contain a drain pipe.
At best, the result would be ill will; at worst, you could be sued.
If storm sewers run along your street, you may be tempted to channel the runoff in their direction.
But doing so may land you in trouble with the authorities.
Get permission first from your local Department of Public Works.
In summer, you may also make the sidewalk slick due to the formation of algae.
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.
An average 4-foot-wide by 4-foot-deep dry well should suffice.
12, 2019. doi:10.1111/1365-2435.13443
Flood Waters or Standing Water.CDC.
