How to Fix Water Pooling in Yard: 5 Effective Tips You Can Try

By Paul S
October 6, 2021
Category: Drain

Are you frustrated water pooling in your yard? You might not think that standing water can be a problem, but it is. Here are a few reasons why:

Puddles provide mosquito breeding grounds
Wet areas on your lawn mean dogs are more likely to track mud into the house
Your lawn grass will also never grow properly if it’s surrounded by standing water as moss starts taking over all the green space
Excess moisture is also bad news because it means foundation troubles up ahead

You might be wondering why your yard is constantly flooding with water. It could be a result of natural causes, such as heavy rainfall or an overflowing water body nearby, but the flooding could also mean that some problems exist with your home’s foundation.

So, how can you remedy this problem? Here, we look at the causes of standing water and how to fix water pooling in your yard.

Need Help With Pooling Water? Call MT Drains Today.

Our team of experts have been servicing Vaughan and the surrounding area since 1991.

(905) 761-5551

How to Stop Water From Pooling In Yard: The Four Main Causes of Standing Water and How to Remedy Them

The following are common culprits that cause water to pool in your yard. We examine these causes in detail and examine how to fix each problem.

A High Water Table

The water table lies deep under the ground. The depth varies depending on where you live. If you live in an area with a high water table and regularly experience water pooling, it can leave you frustrated and wondering how to fix the problem.

When it rains, the excess water can soak into the ground only so much before it becomes oversaturated and floods. If you live in an area where the water table is elevated, then drainage will definitely become an issue because there’s nowhere for all that excess rainwater to go. Consequently, runoff from your house’s roof or sump pump systems can lead to more flooding.

The key to handling a high water table is finding the right balance between water retention and drainage. You can make your yard more suitable for plant life by:

Adding compact soil
Growing shallow-rooted plants that thrive in wet conditions
Lowering the borders with sod or concrete (depending on the type of lawn)

A combo solution consists mainly of well-drained soil and surface roots, which will promote good growth while providing enough holding power to not disrupt water flow during heavy rainstorms.

Improper Grading

Your lawn should be graded, which means that the softscaped yard should slope down away from the house at least 2% in each direction, according to Turf Magazine. The higher the grade, the easier it will be to keep water away from your backyard and in the storm sewer where it belongs.

If you have a fence between your lawn and another property, then the edges may collect water. Some homeowners find that their grade doesn’t allow for this ideal slope, especially in neighbourhoods where homes are close together.

An experienced landscaping professional who knows what they’re doing can help you regrade the lawn. They will level out low spots of compact soil in your property and remove any existing drainage outlets or channels that may be creating problems.

Hard Pan Digging

Many people don’t realise that the ground beneath their feet is much more than just topsoil. Canada has a complex array of soil types, not just on farms in the Western provinces but even in Toronto-area yards. Beneath your topsoil at varying depths, you’re likely to encounter dense and impermeable “hardpan” soil with a high clay content, which can cause pooling problems for homeowners—especially those with foundation issues or during heavy rainstorms or snow melts.

Are your basement walls leaking after heavy rain? Learn what to do about it here.

A few inches down from topsoil lies a mineral-rich “subsoil” that is hard to penetrate. Vehicular pressures and other factors can further compact this soil layer, which makes it impossible for water to seep through. The water builds up and comes back through the topsoil, which leads to pooling.

Some solutions are aeration and top-dressing, which is adding extra soil to your lawn. Another approach is digging or rototilling through the hardpan, which is not an easy task, but any homeowner can do it with practice.

Thatching Issues

Thatch is an organic material that accumulates on lawns, and it can include anything from leaves to root systems. It forms a protective layer between the topsoil below and green vegetation like grasses or shoots growing up through it into the sunlight.

For the ground to drain properly, it needs to have moisture soak into its soil. If there’s a thick layer of thatch on top, this process makes it more difficult for water to seep down below.

How to fix water pooling in your yard due to thatching? The solution to this problem is simple: dethatch and aerate! This means that you need to get rid of the layer of thatch using a rake, mower, or dethatcher.

Make small holes about four inches deep with two-inch spaces between them. This will help your plants thrive while also making sure they get plenty of water through their roots.

Bonus Tips: How to Improve Your Drainage and Prevent Standing Water in Your Yard

Add a Dry Well

A dry well can be a great way to manage water in the yard. When you have had too much rain that floods your area, installing one of these will help keep that excess from pooling in your yard with every storm.

Channel Runoff Correctly

The runoff from your dry creek or French drain can end up on a neighbour’s property, which may cause them ill will. Make sure that this does not happen by channelling the runoff correctly.

If you have storm sewers running near your house, be sure to get permission from local authorities before channelling any runoff in their direction. Doing this without permission could land you in trouble with the authorities and public works departments.

Let the Professionals at MT Drains & Plumbing Fix Water Pooling in Your Yard

If you’ve got a drainage issue that needs solving in Vaughan and the GTA, our experts at MT Drains & Plumbing are available to help. All you need to do is call us, and we’ll be right there with solutions on how to fix water pooling in your yard.

We provide expert plumbing, waterproofing, and drain pipe repair services in Vaughan as well as nearby areas such as Newmarket and Aurora, Barrie, Thornhill, and Oshawa. Our services are cost-effective, prompt, and durable, delivered by an experienced and professional team.

Contact our team at MT Drains & Plumbing today at (905) 761-5551 in Vaughan, Ontario, to schedule plumbing services near you in the Greater Toronto Area.

Paul S

Paul has more then 20 years in basement waterproofing and plumbing projects experience. Looking for an advice from an expert plumber? Make sure to read Paul's articles about residential waterproofing and plumbing projects in Toronto.