If you need a rowboat to get back to your grill, you’ve got a yard drainage problem.

So you hit the internet for DIY yard drainage solutions.

Hey, look, lots of instructions for rain barrels and rain gardens, extending your downspouts and replacing hardscape with gravel.

Maybe you’ll get lucky, one of these Saturday afternoon projects will do the trick, and you can dock the rowboat and go out for ice cream!

But not every yard drainage problem is so easily fixed. And if you start digging up your yard to try to level it out, or install DIY yard drainage solutions but get the positioning wrong, you could end up making the problem worse.

Let’s take a look at some yard drainage solutions and the value of calling a pro:

First, Do You Have Yard Drainage Problems?

If you do, you probably already know it:

1. Puddles that don’t evaporate.
2. Your grass stays saturated, long after the rain stops.
3. Water pools on your driveway, patios, or sidewalk after you receive rainfall.
4. Sea creatures left Sea World to move into your backyard. Flooded grass
OK, maybe not number 4. But even the first three signs are bad news. Why?

Your grass will die if it's underwater for too long.
You’re tired of everybody tracking mud into the house. (Rugs are expensive, people!)
All that stagnant water has turned your yard into a haven for breeding mosquitoes.
Nobody wants to attend a backyard barbecue in a swamp.
A leaky basement is a huge pain.

Orlando: Home of Yard Drainage Problems

You probably won’t see this catchy slogan on license plates, but it’s true.

If you live in a newer Orlando neighborhood, chances are there are drainage problems around your house. landscape crew installs drain pipe Yard drainage here in Orlando is a continuing problem as the city grows.

Most of the dry areas have already been developed, so many of the houses in newer neighborhoods have drainage problems. The already-wet ground can’t absorb extra water due to its clay content.

Things are Squishy: Now What?

There are a few solid yard drainage solutions:

Improve Grading

Creating the proper slope in your yard can help move surface water away from your house. Even a subtle grading change can make a substantial difference.

Fix Yard Drainage Problems with Collection Boxes

Also called catch basins, these gizmos are a yard drainage staple. drainage catch basins sitting on retaining wall
It’s basically a 12-inch-square box with a grate on top and a drainage pipe that slopes away from the basin. Placed in the ground at a low point on your property, or wherever drainage is a problem, they work pretty simply — water and debris enter the box through the grate.

Solids settle to the bottom while water drains out of the pipe and is diverted to the street storm drains. These do well at removing water, but don’t do much for wet soil.

French Drains for Yard Drainage Problems

French drains, typically installed at a low point between two houses, use gravity to divert your yard’s excess water.It’s basically a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe inside. Water flows into the trench, soaks down through the gravel and into the pipe, which diverts it away from your yard. These do a great job drying up any standing water as well as firming up the soil. landscape team install french drain
Drawback: they’re a lot of work to install — you definitely need a yard drainage contractor — which means they’re expensive.

So, there’s another option

Another Option for Yard Drainage Problems: NDS EZ-Drain

An alternative to the French drain, the NDS EZ-Drain installs without gravel, saving a lot of time and money.

EZ-Drain bundles consist of fabric, lightweight gravel substitute, and pipe. It’s like an entire yard drainage system, bundled neatly together. This method is more effective than catch basins, but less effective than French drains. drainage downspout surrounded by stone
It drains excess water in much the same way as a French drain, but it cuts installation time in half by eliminating the need to transport, shovel, and move heavy gravel. But it’s still best tackled by a yard drainage contractor.

Yard Drainage Solutions: Don’t Delay

Don’t ignore drainage problems in your yard.

Excess water can damage your home’s foundation, erode and crack sidewalks, driveways, and retaining walls. landscape crew installs drainage solution
Landscapes that drain poorly can cause water damage problems inside the house, too.

Too much water creates mold and mildew and causes cracks in interior walls and exterior surfaces. Damp conditions can even encourage mosquitoes and rodents to breed.

Fix Yard Drainage Problems in Orlando with Ground Source

Not every Central Florida landscaping company has drainage experts on board.

No matter what drainage problems lurk in your yard, we have a solution, from expert grading to collection boxes to French drains and NDS EZ-Drains.

Don’t wait until you see frolicking dolphins in your yard to give us a call.

We’re yard drainage experts, but our skills don’t stop there.

We’re with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.

Sod, irrigation, landscape design: Let us transform your yard from an embarrassing eyesore to a place you spend every spare minute.

Are you ready to enjoy the vibrant, impressive yard you've always wanted? Request a quote today! We’ll help you review your options and then transform your property.