Are you tired of tracking mud into your home or gouging ruts in your yard because it’s soft and wet?

If your yard is always mushy or muddy, it will not be easy to appreciate your home’s outdoor spaces. Also, it’s inconvenient when your family and dogs can’t run about on your property without getting muddy feet.

Fortunately, you can resolve this problem by following the advice in this article! So stay tuned to find out how to dry out a wet yard.

Whether the ground is muddy, rainy, or soft, you can solve the problem and enjoy your outdoor space without becoming dirty!

Why is my lawn always wet?

Is your grass always wet, or do you have standing water? A wet lawn might mean that your pets and children are always tracking mud into your home, and your lawnmower is constantly becoming clogged with wet grass. Wet areas can also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests, making it difficult to enjoy your yard.

So, what’s the deal with your soggy lawn? Your grass may be wet for various reasons, including:

  • Low areas that collect water
  • Poor-planned landscaping
  • Blocked drains or irrigation systems
  • Excessive shade
  • Inadequate vegetation
  • Moisture-retaining soil
  • Your house is a source of standing water

When you understand why your lawn is wet, you can take the necessary steps to remedy the situation. Continue reading to learn more about why your lawn is constantly wet.

1. Wet lawn as a result of poorly planned landscaping

When you want to change the landscape of your yard or add new fixtures such as sheds, pools, or patios, it is essential to consider how your yard’s irrigation will be affected. People frequently add these fixtures to their landscaping only to discover later that they produce standing water in their yard.

Similarly, consider how much dirt and vegetation you intend to move if you design your yard. The less soil and vegetation there is, the more standing water there is likely. Because vegetation and soil absorb moisture, there is nowhere for the water to go when it is removed.

You can add irrigation systems to your yard when you landscape it to help the water drain properly. This can help eliminate standing water while also allowing you to add new fixtures to your yard.

2. Your lawn has low areas that collect water.

Have you ever observed how many ponds, lakes, and rivers are located near the base of a hill? This is because water will naturally irrigate and drain to the lowest point due to gravity. So, if standing water is in the yard, it could be due to low points where the remainder of the water drains.

Many people will build artificial ponds on their property to aid in water drainage. The pond will be situated on their property’s lowest point. However, suppose you don’t like having a body of water on your property. In that case, you can minimize standing water by filling the low portions of your yard with soil and gravel, which raises the level of your yard and eliminates standing water in particular areas.

3. Wet lawn as a result of clogged drains or irrigation systems

Many yards already have irrigation systems built-in, whether a drain to help transfer water away from your house or ditches to help irrigate water downhill.

If you have standing water in your yard, it could be caused by clogged irrigation drains. A drain or system that would typically remove water from your lawn has been clogged, causing water to pool on the surface of your lawn.

Irrigation ditches on your property might become clogged with grass clippings, sticks, road garbage, and other debris. Fortunately, these are easy to clean; all that is required is debris removal. However, special equipment may be required to extend down the pipe and remove the clog when unblocking a drainage pipe.

4. Your yard’s soil retains moisture

Did you know that some soil retains more moisture than others? If your lawn sprouts from soil retaining moisture, it is difficult for water to be absorbed into the ground. If your yard’s soil possesses these characteristics, it may take a few days after a steady rain for standing water to begin to dissipate.

Clay soil is a significant source of standing water. Tilling and adding dirt and sand to your soil can help it become more absorbent to water. This allows water to circulate easily through the soil and be absorbed fast, preventing it from sitting on your lawn.

5. Lawn that is wet because of a lack of vegetation

Is asphalt or a patio covering a substantial amount of your property? This surface’s run-off can lead to standing water in your yard. Adding vegetation, especially in areas where there isn’t any, is one way to help clear your property of standing water.

Plants, like all living things, require water to survive. Plants can help absorb water into the soil, preventing it from pooling in your yard. You can beautify your patio with plants or remove a gravel part to plant grass. When it pertains to getting rid of stagnant water in your yard, plants are your best friend!

6. Wet lawn as a result of too much shade

While a shaded yard will not result in standing water, it will cause moisture to remain on your lawn for extended periods. Large trees in your yard can prevent the lawn from receiving the sunlight it requires to remove moisture. A lawn that retains moisture is also a breeding ground for various grass diseases and fungi. 

Moisture on the lawn can make cutting impossible, as does getting your feet wet as you go through the yard. If your yard is shaded, dew on the summer grass may remain on the lawn until late afternoon before evaporating. Using a reciprocating saw to trim tree limbs might help the lawn get more sunshine.

The apparent solution to this problem is to prune the branches on your trees to allow more sunshine to reach your lawn. This will help dry the wetness from the lawn, but it will also be beneficial to the grass.

7. Your house causes excessive water moisture in your yard

Do you know that your house could be the source of the standing water in your yard? The home is the most visible feature of any property, but it is frequently disregarded for grass care. If you have too much wetness in your yard, it could indicate a problem with your house.

How to quickly dry a wet yard

wet yardA puddle in the lawn after heavy rain

A wet yard can be caused by:

  • Low-lying areas that collect rainwater
  • Soil that holds excessive moisture
  • Blocked drainage pipes or grates
  • Landscape features that obstruct water drainage

Dealing with low areas

The easiest solution for low areas is to fill up the area using a dirt and gravel mixture that allows drainage, packs firm, and prevents water from collecting.

In grassy areas, use a rototiller to grind up the surface. Once the ground has been leveled enough to prevent water from pooling, replant seedlings or lay sod.

Soil that holds moisture

When your entire lawn is wet, the cause could be the soil itself. Organic matter-rich soils hold moisture long after the rain has stopped.

Tilling up the yard and mixing sand into the top six or eight inches of existing soil is the easiest way of retaining soil moisture. But, of course, you’ll have to reseed your lawn afterward.

Drain and grate clogs

Leaves and other debris can clog grates and drains designed to handle excess water. As a result, even storm drains might overflow and flood your property.

If you have a drain nearby, make sure it is clear of clogs regularly, especially before and after an intense downpour, so that water does not pool in your yard.

Landscaping features that obstruct drainage

Surprisingly, many homeowners build a raised planter bed, shed, or berm directly in the course of natural water drainage off their land.

If you have a wet area in your yard, glance around to see if any landscape features are blocking water flow. If this is the case, remove the feature or dig a trench and install drain pipes to divert the water away from the problematic area.

Dry out naturally

Allow your lawn to dry out naturally.

After aerating and adding dirt to your yard, leave it alone for 8 to 12 hours (or overnight) to allow the soil to settle. Sunlight and air are essential for drying up any lingering standing water or excess moisture in the soil.

It does not have to be entirely dry before you begin working on it. A little moisture can help you mend your yard and restore it to your desired garden.

Apply compost

Inspect and assess your soil to see how wet or dry it has gotten due to being allowed to dry out naturally. Then, you can add and apply more compost if you believe it requires an organic amendment. It not only helps balance soil moisture, but it is also a terrific and healthy start for your garden.

Muddy yard solutions

Having to deal with a muddy yard is the worst! Here are some ideas for dealing with a muddy yard.

Aeration

The most straightforward treatment for muddy yards is to use an aeration tool to poke holes in the lawn’s surface. Aeration allows water to drain through compacted topsoil, the primary water retention source in a well-kept lawn.

You can rent a commercial-grade power aerator for more extensive lawns or a manual type for smaller yards. Unfortunately, even a metal rod with a sharp end can be stabbed into the ground.

Trenching

Source: HGTV

Digging a trench to remove water from a nearby sewage drain or another section of your yard that appears extremely dry most of the time is another option to help with a muddy yard.

A French drain is a trench lined with landscape fabric, filled with gravel, and then covered with another layer of landscape fabric or a plastic drain pipe. Then, put extra dirt on top of the drain to allow grass or plants to grow.

The French drain solution is a quick and low-cost way to drain water from muddy areas in your yard.

Plant It

fresh elephant ear leaf

Create a planting bed or berm over a tiny, muddy area and grow water-loving plant species like elephant ears on top. While you enjoy the greenery and address your mud problem, the plants can thrive.

Fix your drainage system

Most people may think this is obvious, yet inadequate drainage is the primary cause of a muddy yard in most cases. So when it rains in your area, you should walk outside and see how much water comes out of your downspout.

You must ensure that the water drains into a separate drainage pipe; otherwise, the entire yard will get muddy.

You must immediately repair your drainage system if your yard is becoming muddy due to improper downspout placement. There should be no vegetation in the drainage area and no runoff on the yard itself.

Use Lime

Lime is one of the most efficient solutions to cope with a muddy yard. Lime can be used to dry a muddy yard quickly. Wet dirt can be tough to deal with on your own, regardless of whether it’s in your front or back yard.

Cover the yard with pine flakes

pine flakes

Pine flakes are a short-term solution for a muddy yard because they absorb water quickly in damp and soggy regions, allowing the yard to dry quickly. In addition, because of their size, the shavings remain on the soil surface and are an excellent natural option, even for muddy dog pathways.

To use them, gather enough pine flakes and liberally apply them to damp, soggy, or muddy places. Spread and level the chips evenly. Within two hours, the pine shavings will have absorbed the moisture and formed a layer on top of the mud in your yard.

Solutions for soggy lawns

Here are some suggestions for repairing a waterlogged lawn that feels spongy and damp when walking on it.

  • Replace downspouts
  • Regrade the entire yard
  • Spread sand

Downspout dilemmas

Do you have downspouts that drain into your lawn? If this is the case, you should expect a damp lawn, but there is a solution.

Dig a two-foot-wide by a three-foot-deep hole near the end of your downspout. Make sure it’s not too close to your house’s foundation.

3/4 of the void should be filled with gravel. Place an extension on your downspout, so the end is on the gravel, then fill the gutter pipe with more gravel.

Rain will now fall into the gravel pit and drain far beneath the ground.

Ensure proper water flow

The final answer for a perpetually waterlogged yard is to regrade the entire lawn.

This approach can be costly because you’ll need to hire or rent heavy equipment and pay for filler soil if you need to fill up the surface. After finishing, you’ll need to reseed or sod.

Sand solution

Soil with shovel, teel shovel be used for scoop sand to construct the building background, front view, Sharp shovel on cultivated farm field, Digging soil, Shovel putted into heap of ground

If you have patience, ripping up your lawn is an alternative solution. Buy bags or a load of sand. Put the sand in a broadcast spreader (often used for fertilizer) and walk over the areas you want to dry. Cross the area until you can see sand accumulating between the grass blades.

Allow the sand to settle into the grass for a week before repeating. Then, repeat until the area is no longer soaked. This strategy works great if you give the sand and grass enough time to settle.

How to firm up soft ground

The soft ground becomes a problem when anything heavy passes over the area, causing divets or gouges. Walking might also be dangerous if the ground gives too much.

Amending the underlying soil with peat or compost is the best way to firm up soft ground.

Because they have less “give” when weighted, these materials are thick and help sustain the ground beneath the grass.

Mix the soil amendment material into the top six to eight inches of the ground with a rototiller before reseeding.

To enhance firmness in an excessively soft area, mix a modest amount of fine gravel while tilling.

In conclusion

Fixing a muddy and wet yard improves the curb appeal of your property and allows your family and pets to use your lawn for play or enjoyment without making a mess.

I hope the remedies in this guide help you fix the muddy, damp, or soft spots in your yard.

With a dry yard, your guests and family can avoid wearing wet, unclean shoes and chill and enjoy your outdoor spaces!