Draining my backyard swamp

MACflyer · Mar 20, 2021

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 · Mar 20, 2021

MACflyer said:
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 691055 View attachment 691056

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

lilranch2001 · Mar 20, 2021

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

CobyRupert · Mar 20, 2021

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

dodge man · Mar 20, 2021

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 · Mar 20, 2021

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 · Mar 20, 2021

Pond.

Bruce

BoylermanCT · Mar 20, 2021

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 · Mar 21, 2021

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 · Mar 21, 2021

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!