Spring rains: early signs your yard has a drainage problem
Standing water, soft ground, washed-out mulch and stained foundations are early drainage signs. French drains start at $65 per linear foot.
Short answer: spring rain is the cheapest free test your yard will ever get. Watch where the water goes during and after a heavy storm. Puddles that outlast the rain, soft ground along the foundation, mulch pushed into the lawn and a stained base on the house are the early signs. French drains on our price list start at $65 per linear foot.
Why spring shows it first
By spring, the ground has been wet through winter and the clay is already full. Georgia clay drains slowly, so when a big spring storm arrives there is nowhere for the water to soak in. Whatever grading, pipe or low spot is wrong in your yard gets exposed. A yard that looked fine in a dry summer or a quiet fall can show problems after one hard rain.
Walk the yard during the rain
Put on a raincoat and look. It is the fastest way to learn where water goes.
- Follow the downspouts. Is water spreading out near the foundation, or running away?
- Look at the slope. Water that runs toward the house is the first thing to fix.
- Look for channels. Small cuts in the soil or lines of washed-out mulch show the path water takes.
- Check the low spots. Where does it collect, and how fast does it go?
- Watch the neighbors' edge. Water entering from a higher lot can be the real source.
Signs to write down
| Sign | What it usually points to |
|---|---|
| Puddles still there a day or more after rain | A low spot with no outlet |
| Soft, spongy ground along the house | Water collecting at the foundation |
| Mulch or soil washed onto the lawn or walk | Fast runoff on a slope |
| Water stains or damp on the lower wall | Water pressing against the house |
| Moss, or grass that will not grow in one patch | Constant dampness |
| Downspout water pooling at the pipe end | Downspout needs to be extended or buried |
One of these is a nuisance. Several together are a pattern that rarely fixes itself.
Is it drainage or a leak?
A spot that stays wet in dry weather and shows up only when the sprinklers run points to the irrigation system. A spot that is wet only after rain points to drainage. If you are not sure, run the sprinkler zone for that area while watching the spot, then compare it to a rainy day. We cover the difference in more detail in our post on wet spots.
Fixes, from simplest to most involved
- Extend or redirect downspouts so roof water leaves the foundation area.
- Clear and add catch basins at the low spots where water gathers.
- Bury a downspout line to carry roof water out to a safe exit.
- Install a French drain along a wet slope, a patio edge or the back of a house.
We map where water already goes before we dig, and we come back to keep the basins clear. The pricing page lists drainage prices, and the right answer depends on what the yard is doing, not on what the biggest job would be.
What not to do
- Do not pile soil against the foundation to hide a low spot.
- Do not aim sprinkler heads at the house, because spray adds to the problem.
- Do not wait for the next storm to see if it improves when the problem is near the foundation.
When to call us
Call when water reaches the house, when a low spot stays wet for days, or when erosion keeps moving the same material. Water at a foundation is not a cosmetic problem. We stop and tell you before doing anything we could not see, so you know what we found and what it costs before work starts. Start with a quote request, and see our work for the kind of jobs we do.
FAQ
How long is too long for water to sit after rain? If it is still sitting after a day or more, it is worth a look. Water near the foundation should be addressed sooner.
Why does my Atlanta yard hold water? Georgia clay drains slowly and many lots slope toward the house or have low pockets. The combination holds water on the surface.
Can sprinklers cause a drainage problem? They can make one worse by adding water to an area that already stays wet, but they rarely create the problem on their own.
What does a French drain cost? French drains start at $65 per linear foot on our price list. The total depends on length and conditions on site.
Prices from our price list. Updated October 2026.