Fixing a Mushy, Water-Holding Backyard

A quarter of the backyard stays mushy and holds water after rain. The area also needs leveling. Can sand or topsoil fix it?

Don’t Add Sand

Sand + clay = concrete. It worsens drainage and root penetration.

Proper Solution

1. Regrade the area to slope away from structures.
2. Install a French drain or swale (gravel-filled trench with perforated pipe) to move water off-site.
3. Amend with compost—not topsoil—to improve soil structure and microbial life.
4. Replant with moisture-tolerant grass (e.g., tall fescue) after drainage works.

Watch HGTV’s “Drainage, Block Heaters & More” (Jon Eakes) for swale construction basics. Fungus and slime will follow persistent wetness—act now.