Yeah, I hear you on the mulch—been there, done that, and ended up with a soggy mess anyway. I tried to shortcut the drainage issue with a thick layer of wood chips one year, thinking it’d at least keep my boots dry. Spoiler: it just floated away after a couple storms and left me with even more cleanup.
French drains did sound like a big project at first, but honestly, digging wasn’t as bad as I expected... except for hitting a few mystery rocks (and almost my gas line—definitely call before you dig, trust me). I’m still paranoid about critters though. Had a run-in with some very determined moles last spring who seemed to think the new drain was their personal subway system.
It’s a hassle, but I’d rather deal with shovels and gravel than another season of mud tracked through the house. Just wish there was an easier way that didn’t involve so much manual labor or surprise wildlife encounters.
French drains really are a game changer, but yeah, the digging is no joke. I tried those “no-dig” drainage mats last year—honestly, they helped a bit but didn’t solve everything. If you’re worried about critters, maybe try lining the trench with hardware cloth? Moles hate it, but it’s a pain to install.
If you’re worried about critters, maybe try lining the trench with hardware cloth? Moles hate it, but it’s a pain to install.
I tried the hardware cloth thing once and yeah, it’s a total hassle. I kept poking holes in my gloves and swearing at the rocks. Honestly, I’ve been experimenting with planting more native grasses and rain garden plants in the swampy spots. It’s not a quick fix, but I swear the water doesn’t pool as much now. Anyone else notice that just changing up the plants can help a bit, or am I just imagining things?
Honestly, I’ve been experimenting with planting more native grasses and rain garden plants in the swampy spots. It’s not a quick fix, but I swear the water doesn’t pool as much now.
I hear you on the hardware cloth—last time I tried, I ended up with more band-aids than progress. About the native plants: I’ve noticed something similar in my backyard, especially after swapping out some of the turf for sedges and blue flag iris. The ground seems less soggy, but it took a couple seasons to really notice. Did you do anything special to prep the soil before planting, or just dig right in? I’ve wondered if amending the soil first makes a difference or if it’s mostly about root depth.
I just went for the “dig right in” approach—mostly because I’m impatient and a little lazy when it comes to yard work. Didn’t amend the soil, just yanked out the old grass and shoved the new plants in. Honestly, I figured if these plants are supposed to handle swampy spots, they should be able to deal with my mess of a lawn.
That said, I’ve heard adding compost or sand can help drainage, but I didn’t notice a huge difference in the one spot I tried it. The sedges and iris seem to do their thing either way, probably thanks to those crazy deep roots. I think it’s more about giving them time to settle in and letting their roots do the heavy lifting.
Also, side note: I tried digging a French drain once. Ended up with a trench full of water and a sore back. Native plants are way less painful.
