Wet yard
+11
I just moved to a wonderful small house with a great fenced yard, full of gardens a birders' paradise. One problem I didn't know about, the yard is very wet, I am just outside the floodplain. Would a "water feature" help? I was thinking smaller size but deeper. I love the place but my dogs are tracking in mud with just a little rain....
This is just off the side of the patio
This the primary spot for watching the birds, see other photo of the feeders
The whole edge of the patio looks like this
More feeders
14 answers
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Two words: French drain!
Claire M
on Jan 04, 2015
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French Drain could work if you have enough grade (slope from high area to a lower area) If the area around the foundation is flat, and or,it is graded towards the foundation you need to bring in soil to get the area to slope away from the foundation. If you need to put soil up against the foundation you will need to waterproof the foundation as high up as the soil is going to be placed. You can get waterproof products at big box stores. Relatively inexpensive...
Paddy
on Jan 05, 2015
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Yes, A French Drain would work wonders. Here's how to do it: Dig a trench along the outside of your footing. ... Lay the pipe on the virgin soil. ... Cover the pipe with at least 12 inches of washed gravel.Lay filter fabric over the gravel to prevent any soil from clogging the pipe.Back-fill the foundation with top soil back to its original grade height.
Victoria Stevens
on Jan 05, 2015
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Just got done with a similar project that was WAY WORSE. Basically you've goy to make the water go somewhere else, hopefully with out giving it to the neighbors. I agree with previous comments. Looks like a French ditch or drain lines would solve you problem. Just a french ditch may not do it with out some grading changes. You definitely want to move water away from house. Our problem was so severe (10" of standing water for a week after strong storm) we used a rain water retention system.
Al
on Jan 05, 2015
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The land is fairly level, no real slope to speak of. You can see the back of the property in the pictures. The flood plain is very close to the front right of the property. My next door neighbor is in it!
Tracey Hudson Dreiss
on Jan 05, 2015
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In Master Gardeners we were told that in some places, a water-loving tree would help the situation. Find out which ones are in your area. Might take a while, so first put in the french drain!
Lillian Santana
on Jan 05, 2015
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Good advice. I am thinking the soil might have a lot of clay in it which prevents the water from seeping in. It's a huge yard so putting in a retainer and bringing in non-clay soil is not really an option unless you have deep pockets. It would take 60 yards or more! Of course, it could pay if you ever got flooded.
Marion Nesbitt
on Jan 06, 2015
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I live in VA also and know how much fun the clay soil can be in the rain. I have a couple suggestions for you and the first being to core aerate the yard and when mowing season comes mow the lawn on the highest setting so the grass can fill in nicely. The shorter you mow the grass the more weeds will grow. Next I would look into planting some moisture loving shrubs and plants in the areas where water stands for any length of time. This would be extending beds out a bit farther so you can add more plants (natives would work great in your yard). Plants will absorb a lot of water and a tree would be nice but if you have water and sewer lines running through your yard I would not add any moisture loving tree like willows or river birch because they could cause you problems in the future. native shrubs that love moisture for full sun are: yaupon hollies (Ilex vomitoria); Spicebush (Lindera benzoin); American Witch alder (Fothergilla gardenia), REd twig or greywood dogwood (cornus sericea & racemosa); Witch hazel (hamamelis virginiana); and then some native viburnums which love moist soil Swamp viburnum (viburnum nudum) Blackhaw viburnum (viburnum prunifolium) Arrowwood (viburnum dentatum) some native moisture loving plants Cardinal flower (lobelia cardinalis); woodland phlox (phlox paniculata); joe pyed weed (eupatorium fistulosum) Virginia blue flag (iris virginica) and even coneflowers and black eyed susans will tolerate some moist soil. Plants can help you solve some water problems plus adding more natives or even blooming plants you will attract more birds, bees, and butterflies to your yard, Good luck!
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Jan 06, 2015
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Your yard looks just like ours did. We threw a lot of time and energy into the fix before we finally put in a French drain, and that has solved all water problems.
Carol
on Jan 07, 2015
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Do you have water running off the house and adding to the problem? I've put rain barrels around our place to collect the water. I use the water to water plants, or when there is to much I run a hose out to one of the irrigation ditches.
Paula
on Jan 07, 2015
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Solution is just like everyone has mentioned, french drain.
Cornelia Schott
on Jan 07, 2015
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If you Google French drain you'll find several DIY guides on installing this kind of drain. Its going to take some work, especially in clay. But you are really going to have to do something to redirect that water. A water feature could be put in at the same time if you really want one. How about a bog garden? It could handle some of the water in a low area, but certainly not from the whole yard.
Juanita
on Jan 07, 2015
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I have to do the same! Thank goodness for sites like this! yes French Drain
Deborah
on Jan 10, 2015
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http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/35829438?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u930&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery16
Al
on Jan 10, 2015
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