Good point about local regs, fines can definitely sneak up on you. I've used the lawn method too, but my yard slopes a bit, so it still pooled up in one spot and got muddy. Curious if anyone's tried using a sump pump with a long hose to spread the water out more evenly? Wondering if that might help avoid the swampy patches...
Yeah, sump pump with a long hose definitely helps. I've done it a couple times—key is to move the hose around every 20-30 mins or so, spreading the water evenly across different areas. Also, if you can, try draining on a sunny day; the heat helps evaporate some of the water quicker and reduces mud buildup. Still might get a bit soggy, but way better than a swampy mess...
Good call on the sunny day tip, makes a noticeable difference. Another thing I've found helpful is laying down some plywood or old pallets in areas that tend to get extra soggy. Gives you a dry-ish path to walk on and keeps the mud situation manageable. Learned that the hard way after nearly losing a shoe in the yard last summer...
The plywood trick definitely helps in a pinch, but honestly, it's more of a temporary fix than a real solution. Last year I tried something similar—laid down pallets to keep from sinking ankle-deep—but after a couple of rains, the wood got slippery and started rotting out pretty fast. Ended up being more hassle than it was worth.
If you're dealing with regular flooding or soggy spots, I'd seriously consider putting in a simple French drain or even just digging a shallow trench lined with gravel. It sounds like more work upfront, but trust me, it's worth it in the long run. I did mine over a weekend with some friends and pizza (and maybe a beer or two...), and now the yard drains way better. No more lost shoes or soggy plywood to deal with.
I went the French drain route too, and it definitely solved most of my flooding issues. But one thing I noticed is that if your soil has a lot of clay (like mine does), even a good drain can struggle after heavy rains. I ended up planting some native grasses and shrubs around the area to help soak up excess water naturally. Have you thought about combining drainage with some strategic landscaping? Might be worth considering...
