How​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ We Helped a Local Family Fix Their Backyard Drainage Problem in Aberdeen, MD

 

If you have ever stood at your back door looking out at your soaked yard after a heavy rain and wondered when it will dry, so the kids won’t be able to bring mud into the house—please, don’t think you are the only one. This kind of situation is very typical in the area of Landscaper in Aberdeen, MD, and can be compared to seeing a flock of Canada geese on Beards Hill Road.

We hear it from neighbors all the time:

“It’s only a little water… until it isn’t anymore.”

That’s precisely the way a local project unfolded. The family had a problem with their backyard and wanted to be able to use it without fear of mud pits, puddles, and damp spots getting close to their home’s foundation.

A Common Story in Aberdeen: When “A Little Water” Becomes a Big Headache

One of the things we have found while working in and around Aberdeen is that the weather changes are abrupt. Storms in the spring come and go quickly with heavy rain during the night. Then, the moisture stays in the air during the summer and the soil dries very slowly. If you add a lot of clay to the soil, you will get a formula for water that drains very slowly.

Maybe at first, your backyard looks okay. After a couple of wet seasons, the truth is different. You could see that puddles are lingering, the grass is getting soft and, what is even worse, water is running toward your home. These small signs of trouble are usually overlooked as people say to themselves that it is just rainwater… isn’t it?

Until it’s not.

Meeting the Homeowners: A Backyard That Couldn’t Stay Dry

The family that got in touch with us lived in a nice residential area close to the Ripken complex. Their children loved to play outside–soccer, tag, or anything that would keep them busy. However, during the last year their yard was less and less able to absorb water. The lawn that used to dry quickly after rain had turned into a swamp that was always there.

They were not trying to make their yard trendy. They just wanted their children to be able to run without getting their feet stuck in the mud and then having to scrub the cleats to remove the grass stains and the dirt every evening.

Their biggest worry?The water was getting closer to the foundation. And when you start thinking about foundation or basement problems… well, that is probably the moment when people start getting a little bit scared.

Why Drainage Is Tricky Here

Local Soil + Weather Patterns

The soil in Aberdeen is like a sponge that doesn’t know when to stop and keeps on holding water. The clay-based soil means that after soil is saturated, water will still be there unless it is taken away with the help of something or somebody.

Also, if you have been living here for quite some time, you understand that we can have very heavy rains especially during spring. One bad storm can wipe out everything that you thought was working.

Neighborhood Grading Challenges

Another thing that we mention a lot and can be seen around the town is grading that directs runoff towards the center of the yard instead of the house. No one is to blame. Many residential areas were developed quickly and yards were not always graded properly for drainage. The problem of houses next to each other being at slightly different levels adds to the problem of water sometimes finding the most inconvenient places to get pooled.

Our First Walk-Through: Listening & Learning

Listening was the thing we did, as usual, when we first came here. The homeowners had already done a few things by themselves: reseeding the grass, making a shallow channel, extending the gutter pipes. Some of it was good for a couple of weeks, but nothing was permanent.

By the time we were walking in the yard, it was easy to tell where the water was getting in. The second half of the yard was slightly lower, and it was evident that water coming from lower ground of the next property was going into their yard. It was not a steep slope, just enough to cause issues.

What was the most important aspect here?The family didn’t want their yard to be dismantled. They were not asking for a huge renovation—just a practical solution letting them use the space again.

Since we have encountered numerous drainage problems of the same nature in and around Aberdeen, we suggested some solutions from our previous undertakings. That’s the good thing about having seen so many yards throughout the years—we’ve come to know that sometimes small changes can make a large impact.

Small Changes First: The Practical Approach

We always choose to go simple in the beginning. Most of the homeowners like that—it seems less scary when you don’t go straight into big projects.

Regrading Select Areas

Changing the slope slightly can be enough to redirect the water and guide it downhill. Here, a slight regrade along the back fence helped the runoff to move to a natural low point that was away from the foundation.

Downspout Extensions

Downspouts are tricky. Water is sometimes pooling right where the pipe ends, even if the downspout is doing what it is supposed to do. We just extended their pipe a little and made sure the water was flowing to the dry parts of the yard.

Planting Adjustments

What most people fail to realize is that native plants are highly underestimated when it comes to water management. The few varieties with deeper root systems introduced for the purpose of planting helped in soaking some parts of the surface that were hard and took water slowly. And, on top of that, they brought colors and life to the yard.

None of these actions demanded from them to rip up the grass or bring in heavy machines. Just sensible little changes.

When the Problem Needed More Muscle

Things got better definitely after the first few rains. However, there was still some water remaining especially after big storms. That’s when the idea of installing a French drain came up in our conversation.

At a glance, the term “French drain” can sound like a complication, but in fact, it is just a simple system that makes water flow underground rather than surface pooling.

It is part of our strategy to do the installation quietly and with a minimal level of disruption that the homeowners should not feel as if their backyard was dug up.

After the installation, we came to see how the yard managed the following rainfalls. The change was very quick. Water went away quite rapidly, and the area that had always been wet and caused them a lot of trouble finally started to behave.

The Transformation: A Yard Worth Using Again

The children were outdoors once more in no time, running and playing without slipping or leaving a trail of mud behind them. The grass began growing again, and the entire area just seemed to be better.

The most important thing was how everything looked perfectly natural. The family was most worried about the outcome being an ugly drainage system. Instead, nobody would even suspect that something had been installed. It was perfectly blended.

What We Learned From This Project

Not Every Fix Has to Be Major

There is a mistaken idea that drainage problems can only be solved by big and costly projects. Sometimes, that is true—only—but many times, simple solutions turn out to be quite effective.

Listening Is Everything

Figuring out how a family uses their yard is a big help in making decisions. These homeowners wanted the simplest solution, and that influenced every choice made.

Native Plants Deserve More Credit

They are strong, reliable, and very good at absorbing water. Most people are not aware of the extent to which the correct planting can make a difference.

Tips for Neighbors Dealing With Similar Drainage Woes

In case your yard is waterlogged, then some feasible steps are listed below which you can try:

1. Be on the lookout for downspouts. Make sure water is not being dumped right next to the house.

2. Check your grading. Even small dips can trap water.

3. Look into native plants. Their roots help absorb excess moisture.

4. Be storm-ready. Take note of the places where water collects the longest.

If water continually moves toward your home or never drains even after two days, it is usually an indication that you should get a second opinion. However, do not worry—most problems can be solved.

A Note to Fellow Homeowners in Aberdeen, MD

Drainage issues may seem that they are too much to handle, but in fact, they are only another aspect of life here in Maryland. You are not the only one who has them and you are not condemned to have a swamp for a yard. Even the wettest lawn can be taken back with some thoughtful tweaks and a bit of patience.

If you ever want to talk about your yard, even just to share stories about the last rainstorm, we are here in the neighborhood. Sometimes, just talking is enough to find the right way ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌forward.