I've been dealing with a soggy backyard that just won't dry out after heavy rains. It tends to hold water in the center, where the yard slopes in a 'V' shape away from my house and toward the back property line. I'm on a corner lot, so I could potentially direct the water toward the street. I'm also concerned that there might be large rocks or boulders buried beneath the soil that could be messing with drainage. What options should I consider for fixing this? Should I go for vertical drainage, install a solid pipe to collect surface water, or maybe a French drain? I'm a bit hesitant about the French drain due to the cost and effort involved.
2 Answers
First off, it’s crucial to get that yard properly graded. Fixing the 'V' shape in the middle might seriously reduce pooling. You could achieve this with just a shovel if you’re looking to save some money. As for drainage, underground piping goes beyond just grading, and while surface drains may not be necessary with good grading, French drains could be helpful in certain situations. But they aren't the answer for every backyard issue.
I had a similar issue in my backyard, and I ended up running an underground drain all the way to the street after getting a company to core the curb. It involved quite a bit of digging, but it’s been working perfectly for over 20 years now!