Draining my backyard swamp

[MACflyer]

My entire backyard has had standing water since I moved into my house in December. I suspect it's primarily due to compaction, as the previous owners had a good 15+ trees cut down back there. The standing water seems to be in all the ruts created by the tree trucks. Fortunately for me, they left all of the logs stacked on the edge of the yard. Unfortunately, they're far too big for a chipper.

My plan is to scrape the entire back yard down about 8 inches or so with my FEL. Next I'll cut the logs into 4 inch strips, and use them like pepperonis to fill in the excavated yard. The next layer will be mulch and other compost type material, and then I'll finally cover it all with the dirt I originally dig up. Any input on this idea would be appreciated, not entirely sure if it's the best way to do it but it's the best way I can think of using the materials and equipment I have.

 

[fried1765]

My entire backyard has had standing water since I moved into my house in December. I suspect it's primarily due to compaction, as the previous owners had a good 15+ trees cut down back there. The standing water seems to be in all the ruts created by the tree trucks. Fortunately for me, they left all of the logs stacked on the edge of the yard. Unfortunately, they're far too big for a chipper.

My plan is to scrape the entire back yard down about 8 inches or so with my FEL. Next I'll cut the logs into 4 inch strips, and use them like pepperonis to fill in the excavated yard. The next layer will be mulch and other compost type material, and then I'll finally cover it all with the dirt I originally dig up. Any input on this idea would be appreciated, not entirely sure if it's the best way to do it but it's the best way I can think of using the materials and equipment I have.
View attachment 691055View attachment 691056

From the photos, I would expect your plan, as described, to end in failure!

 

[lilranch2001]

Yea, I agree, looks like you are just going to have a bigger mess to contend with

 

[CobyRupert]

Get the water to flow somewhere lower....to the ocean preferably.

 

[dodge man]

The problems is it’s flat. You either have to get it graded to drain or find a place to run a tile to.

 

[Sebculb]

Perhaps just bury the logs to get enough fill and raise the level of the backyard. But you'll need a backhoe attachment at least if not a real backhoe or excavator.

And that'd probably be a temporary fix anyway cuz the logs will decompose eventually and the level will sink again.

You need to dig a ditch that drains somewhere lower or import a couple dumptrucks of fill dirt and raise the level

 

[bcp]

Pond.

Bruce

 

[BoylermanCT]

I would dig a trench to drain the water away and burn the logs, assuming you have no better use for them. Cutting into disks and laying them evenly will be a ton of work, and when you drive on them to spread the mulch and soil, they will compact differently and make the finished area very lumpy. Plus they will decompose at different rates, and you'll end up with more lumps. You will have to drain the water before you can use your tractor there, or you will just create a ton of ruts yourself.

 

[MACflyer]

I did start a swale yesterday, and it's difficult to see but the yard does have a gentle slope towards a creek behind the yard. Would the swale along one edge be enough if I can fix the compaction issue? Or do I need a drain through the middle as well? I was also thinking about a dry well. My thought behind burying the disks was to raise the overall level of the yard, but I think it would require several loads of mulch and fill dirt to prevent the lumps. I'll get some better pictures today to try and show the whole layout.

 

[duffer]

The drainage swale you dug should work, provided it is in the low spot of your "swamp". Once it dries out a little, plant some sort of grass seed over the whole area. Vegetation soaks up a ton of water. Depending on where you live, a creeping kind of grass would be great, because it will eventually grow into the drainage swale and protect it from eroding further.

Nice pupper dog!

 

[Thomas]

Cut some trees down let sun in to dry and help to keep dry,for now drain ditch when somewhat dry reslope ground.

 

[DJ54]

Let it drain, and dry out. After it dries out, maybe cut a straighter swale later, then finish with something like a box blade pulling excess dirt into the existing swale, shedding water away from what I assume is the house. Make a gentle slope working it longways with the swale, so it's easy to mow/maintain.

Some Cereal Rye mixed in with whatever grass seed you intend to plant will sprout in about 3 days after rain/watering. Mulch with straw, or pre-seeded matting to hold in place, until it gets started. Cereal Rye is deep rooting, and has quite a root mass. Mow it high for a while, 6" or so, and let it grow forming that root mass. It will penetrate that compacted soil. It will green back up after mowing, but will eventually die out later in the summer, leaving the roots to aerate the soil as they decompose. As it dies out, your other grass will fill in the area's where the Rye was.

 

[MACflyer]

The drainage swale you dug should work, provided it is in the low spot of your "swamp". Once it dries out a little, plant some sort of grass seed over the whole area. Vegetation soaks up a ton of water. Depending on where you live, a creeping kind of grass would be great, because it will eventually grow into the drainage swale and protect it from eroding further.

Nice pupper dog!

It is in the lowest part, I'm just not sure if it needs to reach further into the middle or not. I'll give it some time to dry and see how it does. The wife wants to fill the swale with crushed stone to make it a dry river bed, and line the sides with larger rocks. She wants wild strawberries and clover along the bank of the swale rather than grass, but I imagine it will have the same effect.

That's Rory, project supervisor!

 

[MACflyer]

Let it drain, and dry out. After it dries out, maybe cut a straighter swale later, then finish with something like a box blade pulling excess dirt into the existing swale, shedding water away from what I assume is the house. Make a gentle slope working it longways with the swale, so it's easy to mow/maintain.

Some Cereal Rye mixed in with whatever grass seed you intend to plant will sprout in about 3 days after rain/watering. Mulch with straw, or pre-seeded matting to hold in place, until it gets started. Cereal Rye is deep rooting, and has quite a root mass. Mow it high for a while, 6" or so, and let it grow forming that root mass. It will penetrate that compacted soil. It will green back up after mowing, but will eventually die out later in the summer, leaving the roots to aerate the soil as they decompose. As it dies out, your other grass will fill in the area's where the Rye was.

I like this idea, I didn't think anything would penetrate that compacted soil.

 

[newbury]

It is in the lowest part, I'm just not sure if it needs to reach further into the middle or not. I'll give it some time to dry and see how it does. The wife wants to fill the swale with crushed stone to make it a dry river bed, and line the sides with larger rocks. She wants wild strawberries and clover along the bank of the swale rather than grass, but I imagine it will have the same effect.

That's Rory, project supervisor!

That's an excellent idea! I'd tell her to go for it and tell me when it's done.

 

[DJ54]

I like this idea, I didn't think anything would penetrate that compacted soil.

Daikon Radishes are also a good plant to penetrate hard soil, but not in a yard. It'd leave holes, and smell like rotting cabbage when they decompose. Great for in the garden though...!!

 

[Rustyiron]

I'd give it some time to observe what's going on seeing you've only been there a few months. Blindly trying to fight mother nature is a no win. A few clues would help us starting with your general location. If you were near me my thoughts would be that there's still frost in the ground and surface water will not drain through it. If you're down south a dealing with clay that would be another solution.
If you don't have the elevation to gravity drain the surface, and your soils don't drain by soil type or water table level.....
Be patient and watch what's going on first.

 

[MACflyer]

That's an excellent idea! I'd tell her to go for it and tell me when it's done.

I sold her on the tractor as being an essential tool for the jobs, I'm happy to do the "work" now that I'm not hauling dirt with a shovel and wheelbarrow.

Daikon Radishes are also a good plant to penetrate hard soil, but not in a yard. It'd leave holes, and smell like rotting cabbage when they decompose. Great for in the garden though...!!

This area will have some gardens, so that's a possibility.

I'd give it some time to observe what's going on seeing you've only been there a few months. Blindly trying to fight mother nature is a no win. A few clues would help us starting with your general location. If you were near me my thoughts would be that there's still frost in the ground and surface water will not drain through it. If you're down south a dealing with clay that would be another solution.
If you don't have the elevation to gravity drain the surface, and your soils don't drain by soil type or water table level.....
Be patient and watch what's going on first.

Good point. It's hard to be patient with my new toy sitting here though, I just got it Friday! I'm in eastern NC, clay is certainly plentiful.
Here's a couple more pictures that hopefully give a better overview.

Here the swale is at the far end of the yard, in front of the pool and behind the dirt piles. I'm standing on the log pile.

Here I'm standing at the pool, the pile of logs is at the far end.

 

[old and tired]

I would dig the "swale" deeper so when you line it with gravel and rocks, it's still the lowest part. You can fill in with more rock later if it's too deep but if you don't go deep enough to drain - re-doing the work would be a mess.

Yes, I would run that drain through most of the area... It's not going to seep in.

Running a sub-soiler after it dries out would help it drain more in the future. Assuming you can drive across the area without getting stuck. I would buy some dirt to fill in the ruts (or push existing soil from your property into flatten the area). Sloping towards the drainage ditch!

If you never plan to build on this area, I would dig a hole and bury the logs as is. They will rot over time.

Depending where in Eastern NC; I have a couple of Sub-soilers you can borrow... I drive hwy 64 out to Plymouth a few times a year. And drive to many other parts out east, too...

 

[jfh28]

from the pictures it doesn't look like you have a surface water problem it looks like you have a subsurface water problem.....meaning high water table......that will fluctuate throughout the year and if that is the case then I'd recommend talking to the locals and see what they do as the local soil permeability comes into play with how well the water will run through it....if it's sandy then water will run right through it and swales should work well but if it's clay the waters not going to flow and you'll need a different solution.......Jack