Need proper french drain solution for soggy mostly clay soil yard

[Drainagedoc]

I have a yard that remains soggy (very soggy) well after rainfall. I have already taken all the downspout drainage to the rear corner of my property (more than 75' from the house). I did this to make sure the roof runoff was not the problem and also take this water away from foundation.

The yard is mostly clay. Super rock hard in the dry july summer, and soggy in the fall and spring after the rains. Will stay soggy for 2-3 week after rainfall.

What type of FD do I need or maybe soil ammendments? If i go FD, I am concerend that the geotextile will just eventully clog up and I am back to where I started. Should I skip geo and go perf pipe wrapped, sand, and top with topsoil? Should I go with amending the soil...but that would only be the soil I ammend. The soil/ earth below the ammendment will still be clay and just push the water back up???

Anyone out there with experience on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[concretemasonry]

Go to your local golf course/country club with very good turf and talk to the greens keeper/course manager. They know more about general drainage over a larger area that is proven in the local soils. You cannot get this from a textbook.

they frequently use the traditional rock/gravel drains to collect surface water to where they select (usually a pond near a green or along a fairway. I makes things stable in the long term and allows the grass to grow better and reduce maintenance.

Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.

 

[bimr]

What does the adjacent property look like? Is it possible to put in a storm drain so that your property drains off? Some times the municipality will assist you in putting in a drain to the storm sewer.

One would think that redirecting the storm water would be a better solution than trying to change the soil properties.

 

[brandoncdg]

Did moving the downspout drainage help any, or is it the same? Where is all of the stormwater going onto the yard coming from?

Civil Development Group, LLC
Los Angeles Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading

http://www.civildevelopmentgroup.com

 

[tsgrue]

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I suggest you focus on surface drainage as opposed to subsurface drainage. From my understanding of the site as you have described, the surface approach will work much better. It will also almost certainly be much less expensive. You can probably incorporate attractive landscape features with this work.

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tsgrue: site engineering, stormwater
management, landscape design, ecosystem
rehabilitation, mathematical simulation

http://hhwq.blogspot.com

 

[GoldDredger]

I agree with tsgrue, sounds to me like surface isn't draining. I had the same problem at my house with Texas clays, only I had a roof drain emptying in the area as well.

I bought a 4" coiled perferated pipe with filter sock at Home Depot, it comes in about 25' coils. About every 15' I installed a little landscape drain, about 4" in diameter that connects to the coiled perf pipe. All of it is manufactured to work together.

I ran it out across the side yard, into the front yard and day lighted it at the sidewalk. Works like a charm.

I'd advise you hire the labor. After two weekends, I re discovered ditch digging is not my forte.

 

[Ltwine]

I recommend to remove the top few feet of the soil, replace with free drain materials, top soil, and turf. The excavation shall slope towards drainage system. Depending on type of soil below, the exposed earth may, or may not require geotextile.

The first responder's recommendation is a good starting point.