How To Drain A Waterlogged Lawn

Here in the UK, even the most well cared for lawns can suffer from waterlogging, whether because of the soil type, heavy rain or inadequate runoff. But it doesn’t have to be like this, because this month at Express Drainage Solutions, we’ve created a guide on how to drain a waterlogged lawn, as well as some tips on how to keep it from happening.

As we explore this topic, we’ll look at the signs, the causes and the practical steps to drain and prevent waterlogging, from the simple fixes to the more substantial options. If you’re a homeowner, you can use this guide to resolve issues yourself or find tips on when specialist help is needed.

What is a waterlogged lawn?

Waterlogging refers to the condition of the soil of your lawn becoming oversaturated. This leaves no more room to absorb water or air, thereby suffocating the roots of your lawn. This differs from more temporary surface water, which eventually drains, as waterlogging is persistent and damaging when left untreated.

Why does waterlogging happen so frequently here in the UK? There are several factors at play here, but British people will be more than familiar with the heavy and often extreme rainfall levels throughout the autumn and winter months. When this is coupled with clay-rich soils, common in many regions across the country, it leads to drainage issues.

The risk of waterlogging is also increased by foot traffic, pets and mowing equipment compacting the lawn, while some new housing developments have an increased risk if they’ve been built with poor sub-soil preparation measures.

Signs your lawn is waterlogged

We can break down the signs of a waterlogged garden into two categories: the immediate indicators and the longer-term symptoms. Let’s start with the more immediate and obvious signs:

Puddles that linger for many days after rainfall has finished
A squishy, spongy feeling to the ground underfoot
Muddy patches when the grass has thinned out or died back

Those are the instant clues, but what about spotting trends over many months?

Yellowing or rotting grass. While not just caused by waterlogging, it’s often widely associated with it.
Moss and algae growth. This may seem somewhat natural, but it points to heavy water content in your garden.
Foul odours from stagnant water. Only rainwater that has nowhere to go can become stagnant and start to smell.
Stunted growth and shallow roots. If you spot this in your grass, it could be because the heavy water content of the lawn is making it impossible for proper growth.

Common causes of waterlogging

Now you know what to look for if you think you have a waterlogged garden, let’s move on to diagnosing the cause. Here are four common causes of a waterlogged garden:

Soil type issues

Certain soils, particularly clay soils, are more prone to waterlogging because their composition means they don’t drain as naturally as others. Plus, a lack of organic matter can reduce the aeration and permeability of the soil.

Compaction

Compaction simply means that the soil has been compressed, which further removes air gaps that would often help water to flow through. This is more common in gardens that are regularly used, either for entertaining, playing football or just because it has been mown at the wrong time, leading to increased footfall.

Poor garden grading or low-lying land

If a lawn is sloped towards a building or fence, it’s facing a blockage that minimises the dispersal of water through the soil. There can even be natural dips that tend to collect more water, exacerbating the problem.

Blocked or damaged drain pipes

Any drainage pipes that aren’t properly connected or which are damaged or blocked will simply mean more water added to the load the lawn is already taking. This is where drainage surveys can help to diagnose the issues to restore proper drainage.

Quick ways to improve a waterlogged lawn

If you’re a homeowner looking at a waterlogged lawn, you probably want some rapid relief. Here are three quick, immediate actions you can take to help improve the lawn:

The first thing to do is stay off the grass. Avoid walking on the lawn altogether if you want to prevent further compaction.
Manually remove standing water. If, from the edge of the lawn, you can reach with a lawn leveller or a brush-like tool, you can try to move some standing water away. If possible, you could also try to create temporary channels to send water away from the lawn.
Grab your garden fork and perform some manual spike aeration of the lawn, with holes 10-15 cm deep. This helps to move the water deeper into the soil and increase the drainage flow, but it can be limited in the long run, as you can only spike so many holes, so it only solves the issue in the short term.

Long-term drainage solutions

For long-term solutions to a waterlogged lawn, you’ll have to do a little more work (or get the professionals). Here are some of the ways to solve waterlogging, often through preventative measures:

Hollow-tine aeration: This is a specialist tool that removes plugs of soil to dramatically increase airflow and improve drainage. It’s a task you can carry out in spring or autumn if you know you face a waterlogging issue.
Topdressing with horticultural sand and compost: This adds to and improves the soil structure, breaking down clay to make your lawn more capable of self-regulating heavy rainfall.
Install surface channels or shallow gullies: In some smaller gardens with predictable water paths, try implementing French drains or small channels to move water away from the lawn.

When to call in the professionals

If you’re noticing signs of waterlogging in your lawn and think it could be due to drainage issues when there’s heavy rainfall, it’s time to call in a professional team for a CCTV drainage inspection. At Express Drainage Surveys, we’ll get to the bottom of blockages and damage in your system before making recommendations on any work you may require.

As experts in all things relating to drains, we offer a variety of services to help you keep your property free from the damage that water can cause, including:

Facing a waterlogged lawn this autumn? Don’t worry – call our team or contact us online today for help with your drainage issues and we’ll be happy to help.