Dealing with Poor Lawn Drainage

Do you notice puddles that linger for longer than usual on your lawn especially after it rains? You might be dealing with poor lawn drainage, and you need to act now. Why? For one, long-standing puddles can attract mosquitoes and even weaken and kill the grass you’ve worked so hard to cultivate. Grass roots need air as much as water, and with too much water in the soil, they’ll “drown,” and the green will turn to brown.

Understanding how lawn drainage works can help you deal with the problem. Remember, lawn drainage is never instant, so don’t expect your lawn to drain within minutes or even seconds. The huge amount of plant roots can create a thick barrier in the soil, decreasing its permeability, but when the water takes too long to drain, that’s another story.

Now that you know the basics, try to identify the possible sources. Roof leaders or downspouts that direct rainwater to the lawn, surface grading that’s sloped toward a walkway or house foundation, nearby properties that have been raised, and the quality of your soil (if you have hardpan or clay, they’re certainly impermeable to water) are fine examples.

Once you’ve rooted out the culprits, it’s time to get down to business. You can choose to have a drain tile installed, plant water-thriving plants, or simply divert water flow away from your lawn. Either way, you have to get things done.