Puddles, Pools & Standing Water: 4 Clear Signs That Your Yard Has Poor Drainage & Why It Needs To Be Fixed Right Away
Water, am I right?
Okay, maybe that’s a silly way to start this conversation, but -water- is the thing we all need, every plant, every person, every single day… and yet, it’s also one of our biggest problems.
Too little and, well, to put it bluntly, everything dies.
Too much, and… yeah, well, pretty much the same effect…
It’s enough to make you wonder how we managed to survive at all, but the answer to that is actually easy. We have legs, and hands.
When there’s too much water, or not enough, we can get up and move to a new location, or adjust the environment around us to help collect, or drain, the water.
Our lawns… well, they’re not so handily equipped, and if you’re here reading this, chances are that you’re well aware of this already, because it’s already become a problem.
Anyone with a lawn can tell you that water can be the enemy, whether it’s too much, not enough, or even too much in some places and not enough in others.
I’m going to shortcut the conversation by jumping briefly to the solution, just in case you’re as frustrated as I was when my yard started dying — the good news is, these problems are solvable.
Whatever your water problem is, it can usually be corrected by fixing the grade of your yard, so that water flows away from where it’s a problem, and towards where it’s needed… or to where it can drain away.
However, while it’s fairly easy to fix, the longer the problem persists without being taken care of, the more the costs can start to add up. Over time, what could have been a quick and easy problem to fix can become quite expensive, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for the early warning signs.
We’ll cover all the most obvious signs of water collecting in your yard and how you can tell at a glance, but if you feel like you’ve got a major problem, I highly recommend calling in a professional to assess the situation, and correct it before it becomes expensive.
With that being said, here are 4 early warning signs, and how to know if they’re a problem.
1. Marked By Mud
Take a look at your yard right now. Can you see any patches that look muddier than others, or maybe the grass is dead from flooding?
If you can, that’s a clear sign that you may have too much water sitting in one spot, and now you know exactly where that is.
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If this happens randomly around the yard, rather than in just one spot, then you could just need slightly more grass cover — but if it consistently happens in the same places, it’s a problem.
2. Unplanned Pool Parties
If there are pools of water in your backyard, and it stopped raining hours or days ago, then you’ve got a problem. Just call an expert, right away.
There could be several reasons for this, from a poorly graded yard to over compacted soil, or problems with your drainage.
It’s pretty hard for me to diagnose through a blog post, but an expert can probably tell you what the problem is at a glance, and how to fix it.
3. Drains, Aren’t
Somewhere near your property there’s going to be a drainage system, likely in the curb in front of your house, and if it’s clogged or overflowing… that’s not great.
It means your water has nowhere to go, and so it’s just staying put.
This could be a problem with the drainage system itself, but often, it’s actually related to your home and how it drains.
With the water all backed up and unable to flow away, this can lead to serious issues in a short amount of time, and it’s definitely worth calling an expert to check it out.
4. Basement Puddles & Cracks
When the water decides that it’s tired of being outside and instead it invades your basement — you’ve got a problem.
Over time, excess water can lead to cracks and holes in your foundation, which is exactly the type of damage that lets water into the basement.
This is one of those “the worse it gets, the faster it gets worse” problems, so don’t hesitate to get it fixed, right away.
Water in your yard is a problem, but water in the house is a disaster.
Water is the stuff of life, and also a serious problem — but it’s easy to deal with if you’re ready before it happens.
All it takes is the right grade to your lawn, and all those problems flow away and straight down the drain.
It’s an easy problem to notice, and an easy one to fix… but the longer you wait, the more expensive and damaging it can become.
So don’t forget to check your lawn, and your basement, at least a few times a year.
The earlier you catch the problem, the easier it will be to fix.
