Wet yard problems may be caused by several factors:
- Improper grading
- High clay content soils
- Shallow rock
- Gutter downspouts
- Sump pump discharge pipes
- Soil erosion
- Inadequate drainage systems
Fortunately, there's a solution. Consider the humble "French drain".
First, some history: the French drain has nothing to do with France. Rather, it was invented in 1859 by Henry Flagg French, a lawyer and assistant US treasury secretary from Concord, Massachusetts.
A French drain is a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from an area. It is so simple and works so well that the technique - with a couple of refinements - continues to be a great way for homeowners to protect their home on a reasonable budget.
To head off wet yard problems before they destroy your home's foundation: