Hey all! I was surprised to find a hidden pond while working on my backyard renovation. I've lived here for nearly a decade, and there's always been a damp spot in my far backyard that pools water during the rainy season. In winter, it even gets covered in moss. The ground has felt uneven for years, but we rarely ventured back there. As we cleaned up and dethatched the moss this year, we uncovered large stepping stones beneath the surface, and eventually, a small muddy pond emerged. It's around 12-16 inches deep with about 4 inches of dirt on top of the stones, suggesting they were buried a long time ago. Our house is 90 years old and in a hilly area. Could this be a natural spring, a drainage issue, or something else? I'd love to hear any advice on what my next steps should be!
3 Answers
The depth is a good clue! When you dug down, did you hit any gravel? It might have been a low point that collected water over the years, and the previous owners tried to deal with it by adding a dry well.
Do you know if you’re connected to the sewer system or if you're on septic? That could help narrow down what's going on with your pond.
This could be a natural spring or just a seasonal pool. If it's not causing any issues, it might actually be nice to have a water feature in your backyard! Just be sure to add some guppies soon before the warm weather brings in the mosquitoes.
Great idea! I’ll look into getting some fish.
Not sure! I'll have to look into that.