You rely on your Denver sprinkler system to keep your yard looking its best. However, for many homeowners, managing their yard’s drainage is an almost uphill battle. Without the proper drainage in place, your yard can see dozens of puddles of standing water, all of which can damage your plants and ruin your landscaping. If you’re battling poor or improper drainage in your yard, you’re not alone and the trusted experts at Water Solutions Co. want to help. Here are a few simple things you can do to improve your yard’s drainage and prevent your treasured lawn from turning into a muddy swamp.

Understand That Overwatering is Not the Only Cause

While overwatering your lawn and landscaping is a primary cause of a flooded yard, it’s not the only reason water collects in the low spots. In fact, standing water can be caused by heavy rainfall, underground water leaks, improper roof drainage, and many other issues. While it’s important to water your plants properly and ensure that the soil has a chance to dry before being watered again, there’s more you’ll need to do. Maintaining your sprinkler system, monitoring your water bill, and being mindful of the forecast are all simple steps you can take. By catching leaks early and not watering your lawn when a major storm is expected, you’ll save yourself a ton of frustration.

Inspect the Slope and Grade of the Lawn

A completely flat lawn may be visually appealing to some, but it’s a major hazard when it comes to proper drainage. Every lawn and landscape needs to have at least some degree of a grade to allow water to run off to a designated drainage area. When the grade is too flat, water simply collects on the surface and puddles on the grass, often killing the lawn and causing damage to the rest of the landscaping. If the lawn is flat, all you need to do is hire a landscaping company to regrade your yard. This will create enough of a slope for water to safely run off from the lawn and to a drainage area where plants and landscaping won’t be impacted.

Rake the Lawn

While mowing your lawn may help keep your grass looking great, all those clippings can clog the soil and make it difficult for water to drain off properly. Over time, the more clippings left from mowing, the more likely the yard is to develop puddles after watering or a large storm. To keep the buildup to a minimum, rake your lawn with a good metal rake. The sturdy prongs will reach through the blades of grass and into the thatching, pulling away any dead and unwanted grass clippings. For best results, do this every month or so during the primary growing season. This way, your lawn will get the hydration it needs from the sprinkler system without creating a bunch of unwanted puddles.

Aerate Your Grass

Aerating your lawn involves punching holes into the soil throughout the entire grass area. This helps break up compacted soil and gives water and runoff a place to go safely. If you plan on doing this yourself, use a garden fork or rent a lawn aerator from the local hardware store to get the job done as quickly as possible. Keep in mind that leaving the task to an experienced landscaping crew will save you time, the cost of the rental, and the potential backache. Lawn aeration is a physically demanding task and can take the better part of a weekend to accomplish if you’ve never done it before. For most homeowners, hiring a professional is the best option.

Install a Dedicated Drainage System

Sometimes, even the natural methods need a little boost to keep the lawn from flooding. If your yard is particularly prone to water retention and none of the other methods have yielded results, consider installing a dedicated drain to help manage the runoff. Many homeowners see success when they utilize a French drain method. This involves using a series of trenches around the yard to send excess water away from the grass. The trenches don’t have to be incredibly deep, just deep enough to channel water away from the lawn. Once dug, the trenches are lined with an irrigation pipe. These pipes have perforations along the length to allow some water to still reach the soil beneath. The pipe is then covered with gravel. After a rain, gravity will send the excess water through the channel and down the pipe to the designated drainage area away from both the house and your landscaping.

Schedule an Inspection

While pooling water is often caused by heavy rainfall or compacted soil, it’s not the only thing you need to worry about. In fact, leaks in the pipes, issues with your sprinkler system, and problems with the connection to the home’s water supply can all lead to excess water collecting in your yard. If you’ve tried the other methods to reduce the frequency of pooling water but haven’t seen any results, it may be time to schedule an inspection. Have a sprinkler service look at your system and check for any underground leaks or problems with the sprinkler heads. Schedule an inspection with a plumber and have them check the fittings, exterior pipes, and connections to ensure the materials are solid and not leaking or cracked. The sooner you catch a problem, the less water you’ll waste and the better off your lawn will be.

Whether you’re worried about your yard’s drainage or suspect an underground leak in your sprinkler system, getting the problem solved quickly is important. At Water Solutions Co., our experienced sprinkler repair experts will quickly assess the problem and help you find the right solution for your yard. We know that a soggy water-laden yard is never a pleasant sight and will work to restore your grass and your watering system as quickly as possible. Contact us online or call (720) 435-1495 to schedule a free estimate and let us help you keep your yard looking its best.