Backyard is now a mud pit

[Anonymous]

I could host a mud wrestling tournament or start raising pigs...

My backyard has lots of mature trees, shade and there are bare patches where grass will not grow. Add heavy rain and Apparently a drainage issue by the back fence had made it unusable mud pit.

Is there an easy landscaping fix to make it less of a spotty, muddy mess? I’m avoiding major projects or cutting down 50 yr old trees.

In MoCo

[Anonymous]

Definitely don't cut down the trees. They take in a lot of water and keep the soil fro eroding so the muddy lawn without trees will be even worse.

If it's a fairly contained area and consistently wet, you could give up on grass there and plant a rain garden / plants that like wet conditions.

[Anonymous]

Impossible for us to say without pictures. Have a few landscapers come out and give you estimates.

[Anonymous]

Install a french drain and have the height of the yard raised a few inches (by having top soil delivered and spread.)

[Anonymous]

same here, this is what Ive been told

long term fix: french drain and grade the area
trim trees, try sod

short term: rover rocks/gravel

[Anonymous]

MOCO-me 2 and I have dogs and now my house is muddy from dirty paws, I just don't recall it ever being so swampy!

[Anonymous]

it sucks, my yard is like walking on a wet sponge and it's normally - you know, normal.

[Anonymous]

The trees prevent it from being absolute soup.

Check your neighbors drainage and your property lines.

Look into Xeriscape to help manage water.

[Anonymous]

DC recommends several landscaping compaies that will add a rain garden to a private yard. (DC helps fund the program but nearly all these companies will travel to MoCo to do it on your dime.) Basically, they figure out where the water wants to collect and plant that area with plants that will absorb the water and hold back erosion. Stormwater from your yard will drain into the garden and may sit there briefly until itabsorbs into the soil but it will keep the rest of your yard from becoming a muddy mess. AND it filters out the toxic stuff before it drains into the rivers.

Here's the list: https://doee.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddoe/publication/attachments/2018%20Permeable%20Surface%20Rebate%20Contractor%20List%20-%208.24.18.pdf

[Anonymous]

Bury gutters and take them to the street

[Anonymous]

Lose the trees. You'll never have grass or an attractive yard if you have big giant trees. Have them removed (before they fall on your house in a storm!) and replace them with a few smaller trees that won't block the light. Then you can grow a proper yard, instead of just a muddy mess. No too mention that grass turf is a FAR better preventer of soil erosion than the bare dirt underneath a tree.

[Anonymous]

Those who say keep the trees have it absolutely backwards. A healthy dense stand of turf is the #1 way to slow water movement. If your problem is mud, the trees may have to go.

[Anonymous]

Those who say keep the trees have it absolutely backwards. A healthy dense stand of turf is the #1 way to slow water movement. If your problem is mud, the trees may have to go.

[Anonymous]

The trees do not have to go. They need to be trimmed and ensure they are healthy.


I had our two giant, healthy oaks trimmed in August (during one of the few sunny days). The grass underneath looks so much healthier. Mud is not an issue, nor is there moss like we had previously.

[Anonymous]

Landscape Designer here: I’m inundated with calls with similar issues this year. #1 Check you gutters and downspouts and make sure working/not clogged and then see where water is being directed. #2 make sure your neighbors are not draining into your yard. French Drains are a very very costly solution and way down on list of fixes. Keep your trees but recognize that you most likely have a shadier garden then you used to. Minimize lawn and create garden beds that manage water too. Call a creative designer who understands that you need to address your actual conditions not do a cookie cutter approach.