Regrading an acre of front lawn

[Holbrom]

Hi all,

recently moved to a large 5 acre wooded lot and built a new house. As the front lawn has settled and compacted I’ve got some low spots that need to be regraded and potentially supplemented with a French drain network. I’m looking to start with regrading and adding some fill before more expensive options, but after several dry dais I still have standing water. Is there any downside to back blading this mess with my 1025r in the current muddy state and then building back up? Not really excited about pumping out such little amount of water before fixing the grade.

thanks for your advice!

 

[JDZ735M]

I would let it dry first. JMHO.

 

[old and tired]

....Is there any downside to back blading this mess...

Other than getting stuck (very quickly...)

Are you on a septic system? If you are, Where is it compared to this area?

 

[Thomas]

Let mother nature dry it.

 

[Jchonline]

Hi all,

recently moved to a large 5 acre wooded lot and built a new house. As the front lawn has settled and compacted I’ve got some low spots that need to be regraded and potentially supplemented with a French drain network. I’m looking to start with regrading and adding some fill before more expensive options, but after several dry dais I still have standing water. Is there any downside to back blading this mess with my 1025r in the current muddy state and then building back up? Not really excited about pumping out such little amount of water before fixing the grade.

thanks for your advice!

What type of soil? To me thats your first issue. If water stands, its not a permeable as it should be. Perhaps clay just under the grass? If so, scrape the top foot or so, use topsoil/sand mix, compact, and reseed. If the soil is good down a foot, then perhaps it just continues to drain from other areas. You need to figure out grade and slope. Start at house the move out from there. You want drop continuously until your yard ends. It doesnt need to be much, but it needs to be sloped (say 1/4 inch every 10 feet).

Definitely let it dry first though.

 

[Fallon]

Other than getting stuck (very quickly...)

Are you on a septic system? If you are, Where is it compared to this area?

Any water lines potentially in the area? Does the water meter or well run at all when no taps are open? I'd look for the source of the water before you try & fix the surface. Unless it's really swampy in your neck of the woods & that's in a low spot, I'd be looking for a cause. Fixing the surface won't help if there is a septic, water leak or spring continually putting water in.

A SCUT, probably with R4 tires is likely to have issues getting stuck with a little bit of mud.

Once dry, grade it out so water will drain. Use fill as needed & compact it. Then get decent topsoil ontop, till it & seed it. Straw or other erosion control until the grass comes in is a good idea.

 

[Holbrom]

Any water lines potentially in the area? Does the water meter or well run at all when no taps are open? I'd look for the source of the water before you try & fix the surface. Unless it's really swampy in your neck of the woods & that's in a low spot, I'd be looking for a cause. Fixing the surface won't help if there is a septic, water leak or spring continually putting water in.

A SCUT, probably with R4 tires is likely to have issues getting stuck with a little bit of mud.

Once dry, grade it out so water will drain. Use fill as needed & compact it. Then get decent topsoil ontop, till it & seed it. Straw or other erosion control until the grass comes in is a good idea.

Well is in the backyard and that’s further down from the leeching field, I think it’s just a low spot and in a shaded area. I’ve been in the house 2 months and it literally has not gone down, I want to grade but not sure how to get rid of that water.

 

[Fallon]

Well is in the backyard and that’s further down from the leeching field, I think it’s just a low spot and in a shaded area. I’ve been in the house 2 months and it literally has not gone down, I want to grade but not sure how to get rid of that water.

2 months & it never dried up at all? I'd be looking for a source. Unless it's been raining all the time for the past 2 months.

 

[old and tired]

I would hand dig a ditch down the middle to the edge of the woods, down hill... help it to dry out.

If you can reach the wet area with a front end loader, without sinking the front tires in mud, to form a channel... I would not drive into that area.

Once it does dry out, I would run a sub-soilier in the area to break up any hard pan and makes cracks so the water (might) be able to drain.

After looking at the photos again, rent a track-hoe and dig out a pond!!!!

 

[Clintock]

If your land is like mine with those hills the water will never completely dry. The hill tends to seep water all through the year. First thing,

is that a water break on the right side of my line? If so why not knock it down and let the water drain? Second if that ain’t a water break couldn’t you take a ditch in the arrow direction? And if you can take a stick and poke around it’ll give you a good feel for how deep your mud is. Then and only then can you tell if you can drive in it or not. Looking at the pic here no one can say yea you can go over that or no. If you got a bucket you’re less likely to get stuck. Just push yerself out. I drive through my “seeps” all the time. Have to cause they’re in the pasture.