October 20, 2025
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Heavy clay soil. New construction homes with compacted soil. Poor grading. Low-lying areas. There are many reasons that you may notice soggy spots in your yard that don’t seem to go away once the rain has passed. Regardless of the reason for poor drainage, it’s a problem that can’t be ignored. Lawn drainage problems worsen over time, and the only way to resolve them is to address the issue promptly.
At first, it seemed like no big deal. It rained, and your lawn is wet. Isn’t everyone’s? It’ll just take a little while to dry, and you’ll just deal with it. Then you start to notice that the wet lawn isn’t just wet. It’s squelching when you walk, the puddles never seem to dry up, and you’ve crossed the line from “wet” to “soggy”. If your lawn is still soggy a full 24 hours after it’s rained, it’s no longer about the weather. You have a drainage problem. A wet lawn immediately after the rain is a little annoying as you deal with wet shoes after walking across it. A soggy lawn that never seems to dry is a problem. Drainage issues can cause a host of big – and expensive – problems.
If you start to notice exposed tree roots or miniature canyons in your yard, you are witnessing signs of soil erosion. The excess standing water caused by poor drainage is washing away the topsoil. Topsoil is the most fertile layer of soil and is essential for healthy plant growth. Without that layer of topsoil, you will struggle to keep your lawn from looking patchy, will struggle to grow flowers, shrubs, or vegetables, and will notice a decline in the health of your trees. The overall structure of your soil will become weaker. While you may not notice any instability of plants in your day-to-day life, the first time a severe storm blows in, you will see why having a strong root system in healthy soil matters. Not only that, but soil erosion isn’t a problem that will resolve on its own. If you ignore it, it will worsen until you start experiencing much more significant issues. When you notice the signs of soil erosion, it’s time to examine your drainage issues closely.
Spontaneous ponds aren’t desirable, but some homeowners will put off dealing with the root cause, thinking they can simply avoid those soggy spots. But standing water can cause real damage. If water is allowed to collect anywhere near your home, that water can start to damage the foundation. As the water begins to erode the soil around your foundation, voids will start to form under the foundation, and cracks can begin to appear. Not only will those cracks allow water into your foundation, causing water damage in your home and a host of associated problems, but the eroded and saturated soil will also lose its ability to support your foundation, leading to shifting and eventual damage to the structure of your home. The pressure from these shifts will push against the walls, causing the structure to bow. Once you are facing foundation damage, you are looking at a costly problem to remedy.
More water equals better grass, right? While it makes sense to think that a soggy lawn is causing your lawn to thrive, the opposite is true. Poor drainage isn’t “watering” your yard in a healthy way. In fact, poor drainage can literally drown your grass and plant roots by depriving them of the oxygen they need for healthy growth. Instead of a lush green lawn, your waterlogged property will begin to turn yellow or brown, and you’ll notice the leaves on your plants starting to spot, wilt, and droop. None of this is good for your curb appeal. Instead of a healthy, lush, and thriving property, you’ll be fighting against dead spots, drooping shrubs, and rotting roots – none of which are pretty.
Maybe the standing water you’re dealing with isn’t close to your house itself, and you haven’t noticed any foundation issues (yet). It’s still not a good idea to ignore the issue. While excess water hurts lawn growth, it does allow for other growth. Mold, mildew, and fungus thrive in standing pools of water, and standing water is also a perfect breeding spot for mosquitoes and other pests. You’ll start to notice more bugs in your yard, both the mosquitoes and the other pests they attract, and your yard will begin to have the smell of mildew, even long after the rain has passed. Neither is something you want on your property.
Just like with any other problem in life, the earlier you address it, the easier the solution. If you wait until you have foundation cracks, mosquito farms, dying grass, or eroding soil weakening your trees, you will be looking at a significant expense to remedy everything, and that’s before you actually get to the root of the problem. If you recognize the early signs of drainage issues and talk to a drainage contractor as soon as you suspect your lawn might be in trouble, the problem is often much more straightforward to address.
The very first thing you need to do is get an assessment to see what you are dealing with. Contact a drainage contractor and describe the issues you are noticing. A quality drainage professional will begin by assessing your property and identifying the areas where drainage issues are most prevalent. Most of the time, the problem can be solved by simply diverting the water away from areas of your property where it will cause damage, usually by installing dry creek beds or French drains. In more serious situations, or homes with very poor grading, a drainage contractor may suggest regrading the property. A drainage contractor can calculate the exact slope needed for optimal drainage.
Don’t ignore your soggy lawn or blame it on the rain. If you have standing water that is causing damage, the quicker you address it, the better it will be for your home, your wallet, and the health of your property. Regardless of the cause of the poor drainage, a quality drainage contractor can help identify the solution before the issues worsen.
Protect your lawn and home. Contact Twin Oaks Landscape today to address drainage issues before soggy spots lead to costly damage.
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