How to Cover Up Mud In Backyard – 5 Easy Ways
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There is nothing that can rain on your parade like a grotesque muddy patch in your backyard. Mud patches are an even bigger nightmare if you have kids or pets. And we haven’t even gotten started with mowing the lawn!
If your muddy backyard has you stressed out, then no worries. Today’s your lucky day − we’re about to brainstorm the best ways to cover up mud in backyard. No more mud puddles!
We’ll also discuss some of the most prevalent reasons why your backyard or homestead is muddy in the first place. The best way to cover up mud is to identify the source of the excess moisture.
If you can do that – then your yard will be much dryer from here on out.
For good!
What’s Inside:
How to Cover Up Mud In Backyard?
There are at least six methods to cover mud in your yard. You can plant creepers, use gravel or wood chips, create a path, build a rain garden, drain excess moisture, or use concrete as a permanent solution.
So – which method should you choose? Well, the best way to cover up mud in your backyard depends on why your yard is muddy in the first place.
Let’s first investigate why your backyard is muddy. Then, we’ll talk about covering your mud and preventing it from diminishing the aesthetic appeal of your backyard.
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What Causes Mud In Your Backyard?
Everything from excess moisture to poor drainage! Various factors cause mud puddles in your backyard. Fortunately, there are as many solutions to rid yourself of them! However, it is vital to know the root behind the mud patches before selecting a solution.
Identifying what causes the water build-up will aid in making a sensible choice regarding which mud-covering method will be most effective. So, here are the most common causes of mud in the backyard:
1. A Lot of Rainy Weather
The first and most prevalent reason for needing to cover mud in your backyard is −well, you guessed it−rain. Many of you are likely to experience heavy downpours sometime during the year.
It takes more time for your lawn to properly soak in the rain and dry off after a big thunderstorm. Therefore, finding your backyard with a few muddy patches should come as no surprise.
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2. Poorly Located Drainage
Low terrain levels are second on our list for the most common drainage issues leading to mud.
The placement of drainage pipes might intentionally direct the rainwater towards the lawn; however, the combination of a flat yard and too much water quickly cause muddy patches in your backyard.
Low terrain issues frequently occur in gardens where there aren’t enough trees and plants to soak up the rainwater.
The same applies to downspouts from unclean and clogged gutters!
If the gutter channels are blocked, they will eventually fill to the brim and overflow in your backyard instead, saturating a piece of your backyard and causing vulnerable and poor-draining areas to become muddy.
If you have unwanted pools of rainwater lingering around and muddying your yard, then this yard drainage kit is the best! Quickly remove excess water from your yard. The kit fits both 3-inch and 4-inch drainage pipes.
3. Low Terrain Levels
Not all homeowners are fortunate to have the luxury of an even, flat lawn. Unfortunately, owners with a skew terrain level will have rainwater accumulating on the lowest levels of the backyard. These puddles turn into muddy patches.
The same goes for terrain inadequately graded, causing slumps in your backyard. In turn, these cavities create a perfect environment for stagnant water and mud.
Read More – 15 Sloped Backyard Ideas on a Budget!
4. Compact Soil and Thatch
Compact soil generally occurs in areas where your yard has a lot of foot trafficking. The soil particles move closer together and become compact when the small spaces between the particles diminish.
In addition, soil types like clay and loamy dirt have a higher tendency to become compact.
Compact soils are notorious for causing wet and muddy areas in your backyard.
To boot, thatch (organic debris) like grass clippings, leaves, and roots makes it more challenging for the water to absorb into the ground. So instead, the excess water will pool atop the thatch and create a muddy backyard.
If you have lots of snow in your area, the mud might be even worse!
After a snowstorm, the heavy snow seems to pack down the compacted soil even further. Add in all of the extra moisture from the melted ice, and your backyard might end up a muddy mess!
Covering Up Mud In Your Backyard
Now that you know what causes soupy conditions in your lawn and garden, it’s time to look at some solutions to cover up mud in your backyard.
Here are the five most popular solutions to cover up mud:
1. Use Creeping Plants for Ground Cover
Creeping plants are ludicrously fast ground-covering plants that thrive in soggy soil. As a result, creepers require minimal care and maintenance.
In addition, creepers are an eco-friendly and affordable option that displays an array of beautiful flowers when mature.
Note that creepers have soft stems and are pretty fragile, so it’s best to only use them in parts of the lawn with low foot traffic.
Creeper plants to consider to cover mud in your backyard are:
- Irish Moss
- Winter Creeper
- Clover
- Blue Star Creeper
- Candytuft
- Creeping Thyme
- Mini Kenilworth
Creepers are sure to turn your muddy backyard into a fairytale in no time!
Crimson clover seeds are the perfect ground cover crop! They help squelch unwanted weeds and also cover muddy terrain. They even attract helpful pollinators! These seeds are Non-GMO and contain no fillers or coating.
Read More – 13 Trees That Grow in Rocky Soil (Fruit Trees Included!)
2. Use Gravel or Wood Chips
Gravel is one of the best mud cover solutions for high foot trafficking areas in your backyard. In addition, gravel covering is pleasing to the eye and unsuitable for fungi and pests.
However, if you have extensive amounts of mud, gravel might get buried in the soft ground.
You can apply wheat fabric beneath the gravel to prevent it from mixing with the mud. Or, lay a fair amount of crushed rocks first to help separate the wet mud and gravel.
In addition, wood chips are just as effective in covering mud while maintaining a neat and attractive backyard. Woods chips are also a budget-friendly option for homeowners who do not have a penny to spare.
To boot, wood chips or mulch require not prepping beforehand; all you need to do is open the bag and cover the muddy area. It’s advisable to use this solution around your yard’s perimeter and not in the center, as it may look a little strange.
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3. Build a Rain Garden
Raingardens are inexpensive ways to take advantage of excess water and cover up unappealing mud in your backyard. Raingardens comprise a shallow, bowl-shaped space that collects runoff water from impervious areas.
A rain garden consists of grasses, plants, and shrubs that thrive in wet, soggy soil conditions. Here are a few common favorite choices:
- Switchgrass
- Spike Rush
- New England Aster
- Purple Coneflower
- Lady Ferns
- Swamp Milkweed
- Marsh Marigold
- Scarlet Bee Balm
- Ironweed
- Bluestar
Tip: Put the species that require the most water at the lowest area of the mud patch.
Purple coneflower is one of the best ways to cover up unsightly patches in your yard! Coneflowers reach up to 36-inches tall and also attract bees, ladybugs, and butterflies.
4. Create a Path
You can create an inexpensive path using mulch and stepping stones to cover up mud in your backyard. A stone path is especially useful in high foot trafficking areas.
Note that it is essential to level the ground before laying your path on the bare soil. Consider using sandy soil to help absorb moisture and keep the soil dry, which will keep the stepping stones firmly in place.
5. Use Concrete
Our final solution is to cover the muddy area with concrete. Concrete helps rid of the mud issue permanently. Then, you can turn your reclaimed area into a patio, a firepit area for BBQs, and even a court for your kids to play on.
However, note that you need to prepare the muddy spot before pouring concrete directly into the mud. First, drain the excess water. Then, mark the area you’d like to cover with concrete with a wooden frame and line the surface area with small rock pieces and an inch of gravel.
Once you have a level surface, pour and spread the concrete to cover the entire surface.
Say Goodbye to Muddy Backyards. For Good!
A muddy backyard is any homeowner’s nemeses!
Fortunately, you can consider using one of the five alternative solutions to cover the mud in your backyard. However, remember to identify what causes the mud puddles before trying alternatives that might not be appropriate for your particular situation.
Finally, you can put a stop to the hassle of muddy patches ruining the aesthetics of your backyard− Good luck!
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Want a colorful cover crop? I love this bulk bundle of candytuft seed packets! You get thousands of candytuft heirloom variety seeds for a vibrant, beautiful garden. Plus cover!
I have a front yard that doesn’t drain very good. You can’t always see the water lying in the yard but when you walk on it, it squishes up through. It’s impossible to mow. it covers an area of aprox. 30′ x 30′. Any suggestions to cure this?
Dear Wesley, thanks so much for writing to us!
Ah, the soggy saga of a flooded front yard – where squishy grass meets aquatic aerobics! Fear not, for I bring forth a flood of wisdom (minus the waterlogged boots). 🌧️
I would consider the following.
Build A Rain Garden 🌱
Picture this: a garden that moonlights as a sponge. Rain gardens are like the eco-friendly superheroes of drainage. Dig a shallow depression (ten feet from your home) and fill it with native, flood-tolerant plants. They’ll soak up water like thirsty poets at an open mic night. 🌼
Plant More Trees 🌳
Trees are nature’s water whisperers. Their roots dive deep, sucking up gallons of moisture and channeling their inner sponges. River birch, black tupelo, and red maple are your soggy-soil allies. They’re the original eco-warriors, reducing surface runoff like undercover agents. 🕶️
Use Mulch Magic 🌿
Choose mulch wisely – think of it as your yard’s superhero cape. Heavy mulch (like wood chips) slurps up excess water, while light mulch sips tea. Keep it six inches from your home – we don’t want soggy walls doing the cha-cha. 🏠
Amend and Aerate 🌎
Loamy and sandy soils high-five each other for draining well. But heavy clay? Not so much. Add a layer of loose organic matter (compost, bark, or leaf mold) – it’s like giving your soil a spa day. Aerate it, too – think of it as soil yoga. 🧘♂️
Bonus Move – Grade Your Yard 🌊
If all else fails, channel your inner mole and dig a secret underground tunnel. (I’m kidding!) But seriously, consider grading your yard away from the house – it’s like giving your lawn a gentle nudge toward drier pastures. 🌞
Remember, Wesley, you’re not battling floods. You’re choreographing a masterpiece! Grab your gardening gloves and turn that squish into a symphony! 🎶🌿
We wish you luck.
Let us know if you need more help!
Cordially,
Mike D
I have a muddy back yard, we laid new sod last year but again it is now mostly mud. I think it is caused by a huge tree in the back yard and when walking you can feel the roots under foot. Please advise how I can get rid of the mud as I have 2 dogs.
I am 78 and it is getting very stress full, and its a long time for grass
Hi Mary! That sounds like a tricky landscape! Depending on your soil type and the type of tree you have in your backyard, your soil might be too acidic or alkaline for grass. Some other ground covers such as clover, thyme, and creepers may be able to root there, as they don’t need much soil to grow their roots, nor do they need much fertilization. Moss may also be an option depending on where you live. Moss gardens are fantastic for shady, humid, muddy spots that don’t retain grass. Otherwise, you could add topsoil and trim back your tree, but that seems like a lot of work.
Wishing you the best of luck! Let us know if you find a solution or choose one of these ground covers!
I have a mud hole in my yard what can I put in it to soak up the water
Hi there Ann!
It’s probably best to fix why it becomes a mud hole, but it is hard to recommend anything without looking at the site. Most likely, even if you did fill the hole, the way the water runs off at your yard would cause further issues. You may need to look at fixing the drainage in your yard before filling the hole. Often, if you fill a hole, you’ll create another problem elsewhere in the yard. However, you could potentially look at turning it into a garden with plants that enjoy a lot of water and will help soak it up. We have had great success with swales, which would direct the water from the mud hole throughout your yard. You then plant out the swales with plants. This is not everyone’s cup of tea however as it doesn’t suit the traditional ideal of the “perfect lawn”. The permaculture swale concept is focussed on increasing your yard’s productivity in the way of useful plants.
Let us know what you decide to do and if you’d like to learn more about swales or permaculture, take a look at these:
* The 7 Layers of the Forest Garden
* Permaculture swales
* 10 Essential Things for the Backyard Permaculture Garden