7 Lesser-Known Causes for Standing Water in Your Yard

Discover Why Homeowners in the Dallas Suburbs Need Drainage Solutions

Standing water in your yard is a problem. Not knowing why it’s there is even worse. 

If you live in the Dallas suburbs and have mysterious puddles, you’re not alone. Our local soil, surprise storms, and love of backyard projects make it easy for drainage issues to sneak up on you. 

Have a swampy lawn situation for no apparent reason? Here are seven not-so-obvious causes for standing water in your yard and how the right solution (like a French drain installation from Andy’s) can fix the issue for good.

• Yard Debris

Leaves, grass clippings, and mulch. Debris like this might be doing more harm than you think. 

 

Over time, these materials build up and form a waterproof layer that acts like a tarp, blocking rainwater from soaking into the soil below.

 

Even worse? That debris clogs catch basins and grates, turning what should be a quick drain into a mini pond. Routine clean-up helps, but if your lawn still looks like a marsh, it’s time to bring in the pros.

• Your Kids & Pets

We love them, but let’s be honest. Kids and dogs can unintentionally create chaos in your yard. 

 

A soccer ball slamming into a catch basin cover can crack it just enough to restrict drainage. A few digging sessions from your pup can form tiny trenches that reroute water in weird ways.

 

The fix? Get the drainage system back in working order. And maybe invest in a sturdier catch basin while you’re at it.

• Clay Soil

Houston has clay soil, and so do Dallas areas like Allen, Frisco, Mesquite, McKinney, Plano, Richardson, and Forney. If your yard is full of compacted alkaline clay, it’s going to hold water like a basin. It swells when wet, shrinks when dry, and keeps your grass soggy in between.

 

French drain installers know this struggle all too well. That’s why a properly installed French drain—using gravel, perforated pipe, and expert grading—can give excess water somewhere else to go.

• Neighbor’s Runoff

That sleek new hardscape your neighbor just installed? It might be sending more water your way than you realize. Their patios, driveways, and pools can act like water slides, funneling water right into your yard.

 

It’s frustrating. And you don’t want to be “that person” who wages a silent war against your neighbor. 

To maintain a good relationship with them, get in touch with Andy’s. We can quickly assess the flow of water between properties and design a solution that protects your lawn (and your sanity).

• Tree Roots 

If you live in a mature neighborhood in Rockwall, Carrollton, or Celina, you likely have gorgeous old trees. And while they look great in the fall, their underground root systems could be creating hidden dams beneath your lawn.

 

Some trees have roots that spread horizontally. This blocks the natural flow of water underground. The result? Standing water in your yard that has no visible cause. 

 

Our yard drainage experts can reroute that water, so you still get to keep your favorite shade trees.

• Wildlife Activity

Believe it or not, armadillos, moles, skunks, and raccoons all live in the Dallas metroplex. But digging from these critters can alter the permeability of your soil. Suddenly, water may drain too quickly (creating sinkholes) or not at all (creating puddles). Either way, it messes with your lawn.

 

Fixing wildlife-related drainage issues often means identifying those zones and reinforcing them. For instance, a French drain can help manage water in uneven areas of your yard.

• Decomposing Tree Stumps

Had a tree removed a few years back? Or maybe the previous owner did? The tree’s underground roots may still be there…rotting. 

 

As they decompose, they can leave behind voids that soak up water and release it slowly. This could create those random wet spots you can’t explain.

 

Underground cavities like this in Lewisville, The Colony, Farmers Branch, Wylie, or Greenville can become long-term drainage nightmares. But with the right inspection and installation, a lawn drainage system can bypass those soft spots altogether.

 

Standing Water In Your Yard? Call the Pros! 

DIY solutions are great when they work. But if you’re dealing with stubborn puddles in your yard, it’s probably time to call in the expert French drain installers (and so much more!) at Andy’s Sprinkler, Drainage & Lighting.

 

We don’t just dig trenches. We install seamless systems, clean up like we were never there, and make your lawn look like new. 

 

Whether your drainage problem is due to tree roots, clay soil, or your neighbor’s patio, we’ll figure it out and fix it the right way!