January 27, 2022

It can be incredibly frustrating to put care into keeping your property well-landscaped and maintained, only to find that you have large puddles after every storm that take an excessive time to dry up. A soggy yard doesn’t look good, but more than that, it can be a danger to the structure and health of your property. If you have standing water in your yard, what can you do about it? Speaking to a drainage contractor is the best place to start.

Lush green lawn and well manicured landscape.

What Causes Drainage Problems?

The first step for a drainage contractor is to identify the root cause of your drainage problems and the reason you have puddles in the first place. Drainage issues are not always due to a single issue. Often, especially in this area, a yard with drainage issues is caused by a high clay content in the soil. Yet sometimes drainage issues are caused by a poorly graded yard with no run-off, and on occasion, drainage problems may develop over time due to erosion or construction. But no matter what the cause, if you have pools of standing water, soggy areas of the yard, or worse, foundation damage and water entering your home, you need to address this with landscaping and drainage contractors who are familiar with your area and can diagnose the problem.

How to Address Drainage Problems

Rather than simply remediating the damage that standing water and a soggy yard can cause, most landscaping and drainage contractors will find a solution to avoid the soggy areas and standing water in the future. Soil with high clay content usually can’t be remedied, but it can be worked with. Depending on the property and the reason for the drainage problems, there are several solutions.

  • French Drains

French drains are one of the most popular solutions proposed by drainage contractors. A French drain is a trench with a drainage pipe that runs a few feet from the house and goes below the frost line so the water that flows through will not freeze and crack the pipe. The pipe will be fitted with small holes and will be positioned to run in a slight downward slope, encouraging the water to flow away from the yard and the foundation of the house. The pipe will usually sit on a thin bed of gravel, and the trench itself will be filled with gravel to allow the water to flow more easily. The gravel can be worked into the landscaping, or the drain and gravel can be topped with sod for an unbroken look.

  • Re-grading an Area

Many properties were not graded well during construction, and others may have initially been graded correctly, but time has changed the flow. In a re-grading project, the property will have the existing vegetation removed, the ground tilled, and topsoil added to achieve the correct slopes. Landscaping and drainage contractors are the right professionals to handle re-grading.

Finding the Right Landscaping and Drainage Contractors

Some landscaping and drainage contractors can solve all your issues, and sometimes you may need to look for separate drainage contractors in addition to your landscaping team. The important thing is to find landscaping and drainage contractors who will be able to solve the problem of standing water and leave your yard looking attractive and well-maintained. Finding a drainage contractor in Ann Arbor who can handle both the practical and the aesthetic is the best possible solution. When you look for landscaping and drainage contractors, begin with finding a drainage contractor who can determine why drainage is an issue. Once the underlying issue is identified, the solutions and landscaping adjustments can be made.

Drainage contractors are essential when you have a soggy yard or standing water. If you notice issues on your property, they can’t be ignored or simply chalked up to the drawbacks of clay soil in the area. Finding the right professional is key to protecting your property from excess water. Fortunately, Twin Oaks Landscape can not only make your property look great, we can also design a solution to solve your drainage issues with highly qualified drainage experts on staff. If you’re often experiencing standing water in your yard, contact us today.