Why Does Your Backyard Get So Muddy?

No one likes a muddy backyard. It looks bad, can get into your home, amounts to more laundry and baths, and can ruin plants and gardens. You can remedy a muddy backyard once you figure out what’s causing it. 

Why does your backyard get so muddy? There are three primary reasons for a muddy backyard. The first is drainage issues and the second is uneven or low terrain where water pools. The third reason backyards can see a lot of mud is because of the weather. Sometimes, it just rains a lot, especially in the late winter and spring. 

The article below explains how to deal with an ongoing mud problem. 

Why Mud Is An Issue?

Mud presents a lot of problems for homeowners. A constant mud problem will cause bare spots and ruin grass. It can also cause plants and gardens to rot, which can be troublesome and expensive to replace. 

Those with children or pets know how bad a muddy yard can be. There are baths for everyone when they come in from playing and tons of laundry to do. A muddy lawn results in footprints or pawprints being left through the house at times, and that means plenty of mopping. 

Mud will eventually ruin your yard and can even cause your plants to die from a lack of air. Water fills up some soils and pushes needed air out, preventing the roots from breathing.

Mud is no fun. Fortunately, there are things you can to do alleviate your muddy lawn. 

Read: How Much Does It Cost To Redo A Backyard?

Check Drainage

One of the most common reasons for constant mud is a drainage problem. Drainage problems could be a leaky or busted pipe or ineffective drainage. 

You can check for pipe damage by checking the soggy spots. A specific spot of sogginess over or near a pipe could mean you have a leak or busted pipe. This is particularly true if the rest of your yard is dry. 

Sometimes, drainage is an issue because of the grading and slop on the lot. Lots should have a two to three percent slope for good drainage. Any less than that could present sogginess issues. 

Read: Are Backyard Renovations Worth It?

Look for Low Spots

Some backyards have low spots that collect water. These are prime areas for mud. Combine these spots with a slope issue and you will have problems. 

Rainy Weather

Parts of the country see more rain than other parts. An overabundance of rain will cause mud because your soil can only absorb so much. 

Five Ways to Fix a Muddy Yard

There are many ways to remedy a yard full of mud but let’s concentrate on the top five. Within the five ideas, some variations of ideas will fix the mud problem.

Lay Down Sod

Sod comes in square tracts and is easy to throw over muddy areas. It quickly absorbs water and provides another layer of grass to cover the mud. It grows fast and can spread to other areas too. 

A good aspect of sod is you can sometimes get scrap pieces that are excellent for this purpose, saving you money.

Read: How Much Should I Spend On My Backyard?

Install a French Drain

A French drain may be the answer to serious drainage issues. These are attractive because of how they are installed with a perforated pipe and gravel. French drains are effective in moving water away from your home. 

You can also eliminate drainage issues by creating a dry creek. This isn’t difficult to do as you pick a lower area and put in rocks and gravel to help with drainage flow. It can add some beauty to your yard too. 

A plumbing and draining company can offer more information on French drains and other ways to resolve drainage issues.

Read: How Much Does A 14×20 Deck Cost To Build On The Backyard?

Grade Your Yard

Grading your backyard to fix your slope is one of the more expensive options but it will fix your mud issues. It will require heavy equipment and you will experience more mud while they do it. 

The project could take a while too, depending on the weather.

Laying new sod afterward gives you a new lawn and the new slope will provide much better drainage. An option with grading is to go ahead and install underground pipes or French drains for problem areas. 

Install a Rain Barrel or Dry Well

A rain barrel or dry well are great solutions for those with ongoing rainy weather. A rain barrel catches water you can use in dry times, conserving water in the summer. A dry well is easy to install and disperses water in different directions so it doesn’t pool in one area. 

The benefit of both is they keep rain from falling directly on your lawn when it is already super wet.

Cover It

One easy solution is to cover the mud. You can use creeper ground cover or create a rain garden over it. Another idea is to simply concrete it into a patio or outdoor kitchen and get rid of the mud altogether. 

You can also cover mud by adding gravel or stone paths over it and through it. Paths will keep those walking around your backyard from getting muddy and, if planned correctly, can cover the worst muddy spots. 

You can add a combination of paved stone and concrete paths to cover up several bad spots and add new features to your backyard.

Read: How To Catch A Bird On The Backyard?

FAQs

How can you fix a muddy yard quickly?

The fastest way is to offer a temporary fix by putting down about two inches of mulch over the muddy areas. Mulch will not only cover it but will provide some clean support for those walking on it. 

Mulch can include wood or bark chips but can also include hay and straw. All are good to use and won’t need to be gathered up again as all will decompose. That adds nutrients to the soil. 

How do you firm up a muddy area?

Adding gravel is a great way to add some stability to a muddy area. It will last longer than mulch and helps with water drainage. A more permanent solution is to till up the spot and add a mix of additional dirt and gravel. Level it out and add sod. 

Building up low areas this way will resolve your pooling water issues without needing to do something expensive like grading. 

How do you fix a soggy lawn?

You can fix some low areas with a sand and soil mix. The mix should be half and half. Spread up to 1.5 inches of the mix on a low area to absorb the water. This won’t last forever because it will likely wash away but will stop mud from accumulating due to weather. 

Why is my backyard always wet?

One reason for soggy backyards is bad soil composition. Yards that are full of clay won’t absorb water well. Clay hardens and doesn’t have much absorption. Test your soil to see what comprises it and talk to a local agricultural agent about how to improve your soil.

Are rocks good to put in flower beds that hold water?

Some isolated flower beds or garden spots hold too much water because they are between concrete sidewalks, the house, or maybe a fence. Rocks are a good choice to improve drainage in the area and prevent mud from accumulating.