Standing water in the backyard: How to fix it without moving
By My Yard Editorial Team · 7/28/2026
The Quick Answer
If water stands over 24 hours, you have a grading or soil problem, not a rain problem. Fixes range from regrading ($800–$3,000) to a dry well or French drain ($1,500–$5,000).
The Witty Breakdown
Start by watching it rain. Where does water arrive from, how fast does it leave, and is your downspout the actual villain?
Half the standing-water calls we see are solved by extending downspouts 15 feet and re-sloping one low spot.
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Map the flow during an actual storm — take photos.
- 2
Extend all downspouts at least 10–15 feet from the foundation.
- 3
Regrade so the ground falls 6 inches over the first 10 feet from the house.
- 4
If the water has nowhere to go, add a dry well or a rain garden at the low point.
Pro-Tip / Do Not Do This
Do not fill the low spot with topsoil and seed it. It'll settle back and you'll do it again next spring.
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