Helping​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ a Grimes Homeowner Repair a Backyard Drainage Problem Without Completely Rebuilding the Yard

 

It's probably not a secret to you if you live in central Iowa that a backyard can very quickly become muddy and messy after a good rain. Like many other areas in Iowa, Dallas Center and Grimes are also frequently hit by spring storms and summer downpours. These sudden showers can expose some hidden problems in a yard that may not have been noticed during dry weather.

In fact, many home owners in this area report that their yards have little problems that become quite significant after rain. It is a very common situation: Everything looks perfectly fine most of the time, however, after the heavy rain, the backyard stays wet and water is there for days. The grass turns muddy, puddles remain, and before you know it, the yard no longer looks like a pleasant outdoor place.

Just last week I found a story of a couple living near Landscaper in Grimes, IA who recently called us as they were suddenly quite alarmed by the increasing drainage problem in their backyard. They almost assumed that a fix would be... damaging the whole yard. Thankfully, that was not the case.

A Backyard Issue We Regularly Encounter in Grimes

We get to hear from folks about their drainage issues quite a lot. However, the truth is, there are many reasons that contribute to such problems.

Clay Soil and Flat Lots

One major drawback of living in this part of Iowa is the soil. Especially in Dallas Center and Grimes, a good amount of the soil has clay. Clay soil retains moisture much longer than sandy soil. This simply means the watering may not go away as fast as people expect.

After a heavy rain, water will be exuded near the surface of such areas, particularly where the yard experiences a slight depression.

Seeing the grass soaking in water for even days in a few spots while the rest of the lawn is dry is not something unusual.

Recent Parks Grading

We also often find the grading of new developments the culprit of the problem. As Grimes expands, old pieces of land are being cut up and modified during the construction of new homes. More often than not the final grading is a good one but sometimes, due to small elevation changes, water might get trapped in certain places.

Homesteads sometimes have just the slight grade towards the back fence or one corner of the property.

Initially it's nearly invisible. But after the appearance of a couple of big storms, those small slopes start pushing the water exactly where you don't want it.

The Homeowner’s Call That Changed Everything

The homeowner who reached out to us mentioned a problem which most probably resonates with many people from the area.

Basically, every time there was a strong rain, a couple of the backyard’s parts were transformed into a shallow pool. The grass wouldn’t dry up for days, so their children stopped playing at that spot at all due to the constant wetness.

Visuals of the Yard After Every Downpour

When we did a visit to assess the situation, it was quite obvious. One corner of the yard was still a little soft and spongy even though it hadn’t rained for a couple of days.

You could clearly differentiate the place where water was still accumulating before finally being absorbed into the soil.

Besides that, the lawn had some gentle dips where there were possibly puddles after a storm.

Main Worry of a Homeowner

Their greatest concern was the typical landscaping fix that would most probably involve a huge rework of the garden and yard.

They envisioned the whole backyard being dug up and/or having to invest in some expensive drainage systems.

That is a fairly standard concern. After all, drainage problems can be complex at times or even sound so. Thankfully, in many cases, the solution is not at all what people expect.

Going Around the Yard

We always like to first have a chat with the homeowner in the yard and together we carefully observe the way water moves and pools in the space.

Sometimes, you cannot even imagine the problem source until you study the entire area.

Minor Signs That Indicate Major Problems

During the inspection, little hints appeared to us.

One was regarding the slight slant of the yard towards the rear corner where the puddles happened. The inclination was quite gentle but enough to channel the water flow there in the event of rainfall.

Another was an observation that a certain downspout was getting the water off the roof and dumping it rather close to the lawn instead of getting it farther away from the house.

Neither of these would have been seen as big problems on their own, but when combined, these were the perfect conditions for water to accumulate in one spot.

The Reason for Not Suggesting a Drastic Overhaul

Things became much clearer for us once we realized that the yard was far from needing a complete reimagination.

Landscaping, by and large, was properly done mostly.

What actually was wrong and causing this, was the way water was finding its way through the yard and settling at one point.

Time and again, a couple of well-thought-out corrective actions can fix a problem that seems much bigger than it truly is.

One Change That Actually Made a Visible Difference

We didn’t even think of starting from scratch. Instead, we decided to concentrate on a handful of small modifications that would be enough to guide the water away from the wet spot.

Regrading Several Small Spots

At first, we examined the ground and the current contours and then regraded a couple of pieces of the yard.

We managed to produce the kind of elevation where you slightly raise one region while you level out another. This way you can get the water moving throughout the lawn instead of accumulating at the corner.

The result was so slight that you can hardly spot it only by looking at the yard but it is enormously different when it comes to wet weather.

Setting up a Natural Drainage Trail

We laid out a mild drainage trail made of gravel and other landscaping elements that looked like a part of a garden.

We did not want to (and in fact were not able to) resist the natural or original thirsty movement of water, so we simply helped it find its way to a proper, more acceptable place.

The rainwater now can flow from the top to the bottom of the yard without creating puddles.

Also Keeping the Lawn Safe

The home owners hardly ever think about how any drainage solution can greatly enhance the attractiveness of the space.

In our case, the grass looked much better because it was not sitting in water spots, and the drainage space even did a nice job of increasing the visuals there somewhat.

Last Picture of the Yard from Our View After Rain

Just last night, a powerful downpour that Iowa is famous for came down. For half an hour, the rain was definitely coming down hard and one could fill every hollow with water.

The home owner tweeted something like they hadn’t seen their yard turning into a big lake for years.

Water was still traveling all over the yard during the downpour but instead of ending up in one single location, it was slowly disappearing as it should.

Thanks to this, the lawn surface dried much more rapidly too.

Drainage Tips We Recommend to the Area Community

If you are hoping not to add water puddles to the list of your Backyard issues, here are a couple of simple ways that you can spot the problem before things get ugly.

Know the Water Puddles After Each Storm

The best way to know how well your yard handles water is right after a big downpour.

Take a brief stroll around your house and check where the water accumulates. Those areas will tell you about slight grading discrepancies that lied hidden until then.

Keep an Eye on Your Downspouts

People, by far, underestimate how much of a part downspouts are in their backyard drainage.

If gutters’ water is expelled way too close to your house or lawn, it can indeed be a contributing factor to your waterlogged patches. Fortunately, gutter extensions are simple fixes that will take care of this for you.

Small Low Spots Are Defective

At first, a slight depression in a yard might seem like no big deal. In fact, in the long run, such low areas catch more and more water.

If you see one early enough, don’t ignore it!

Reasons Behind Frequent Drainage Issues in Dallas Center and Grimes

Our clay-heavy soil, seasonal storms along with the manner in which many neighborhoods get developed make it so that drainage issues just naturally come with living here in Iowa.

It’s quite usual for the homeowners to find themselves noticing changes in their yard as time goes by. This is because the ground settles and landscaping grows.

Here is when small touches will have such an impact and changes that now a homeowner can understand the flow of water in the land, and a couple of minimal interventions will restore the balance in the yard.

A Parting Thought for Homeowners With Always Wet-Yards

Do you think it is the usual scenario where the yard turns into mud after every rain? Well, guess what? You are definitely not alone if you experience this situation.

In fact, it is the commonest complaint that we get from homeowners in the Dallas Center and Grimes areas.

However, the good thing about it is that this kind of drainage issue is usually nowhere near as bad as it looks at first glance.

Most often, what it takes is a proper examination of how water moves within the yard, and then a few intentional changes to help its flow in the correct direction.

And after one or two more big storm rains in Iowa, you will most likely find your yard to be quite a pleasant place ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌again!