What to do for backyard that holds water?
by Fiddlestixs
+4
Our backyard holds water from neighbors behind us when it rains. The slope comes towards the house & has flooded. We've opened up privacy fence area on side of house for water to flow but looks terrible and we have to worry about dogs getting out of backyard.
7 answers
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![Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA]()
Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA
on May 28, 2017
Here in CA that is grounds for a lawsuit. Check local codes for your area, it may be up to the neighbors to do some work on their property too. I would install a drainage system of some sort. Can you post a photo so we can advise as to how best to achieve proper run off? -
![Kari]()
Kari
on May 28, 2017
You need to level out your yard and add some drainage. Maybe use a dry creek bed take water away from your house. -
![Jeannie Herman]()
Jeannie Herman
on May 28, 2017
You can put in a dry creek bed, and have it drain away from your home. -
![Diane Boone]()
Diane Boone
on May 30, 2017
Another option would be to install french drains under a dry creek bed. -
![Cher]()
Cher
on May 30, 2017
We had this problem; my son put in French drains all through the backyard. The downside to this is that now we have to water all our plants, but that is better than the muck that we had before. -
![Beachem2015]()
Beachem2015
on May 30, 2017
The dry creek and French drains are great ideas. Make sure though that you have the area around the house re-graded to slope AWAY from the house, or water will gather there just by gravity. You might want to have some professional help on this dirt-addition - it's backbreaking. (My husband was a builder/developer and fought this problem with every house he renovated!) -
![Gma Kirk]()
Gma Kirk
on May 30, 2017
You can also dig into the lowest spot pretty deeply- like 4 feet or more- fill with large rocks about 2/3 up, the lay landscape cloth or mesh, and top with soil. If possible, this is a great spot for a rain garden- create a round bed and plant with water loving plants. The rock filled area provides a "well"for the rain to go into that can then filter out more slowly deeper.
Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA
on May 28, 2017
Kari
on May 28, 2017
Jeannie Herman
on May 28, 2017
Diane Boone
on May 30, 2017
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