Hello Ruth,

Thank you for the photos, those are helpful.

I am glad you have help, since any solution is likely to involve some digging, moving of materials, etc. I think a berm and swale on your property, or a rain garden, would be good solutions.

Here are a few options-

Redirect Runoff

Intercepting and redirecting runoff provides an opportunity to safely discharge the volume to a place beyond the problem area. This can be done using swales, French drains, catch basins or downspout and sump pump extensions. These methods of rerouting can be combined together with capture and storage practices (see below).

Whenever you are redirecting runoff, you must send it to a suitable outlet. Discharging runoff to an unsuitable area will just move the problems downhill. Be aware that redirecting runoff without soaking it into the soil can negatively impact neighboring properties.

1. Swale

A swale is a wide, shallow ditch in which water can flow to a suitable outlet. The channel should be protected with grass or other vegetation. It also can be lined with appropriately sized stone to prevent erosion within the swale.

Stone is preferable in swales in which grass does not grow well due to shade or that are too steep or long for grass to prevent erosion. A swale lined with stone is sometimes called a dry creek bed. Stones used can be of varying sizes, with larger ones acting as stabilizers and smaller ones as fillers. Generally, the heavier the flows the larger the stones should be. Tightly woven landscape fabric should be placed below the stone lining.

2. French Drain

A French drain is an underground drainage device. It consists of a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel and lined with sturdy landscape fabric. A French drain conveys runoff underground to a suitable outlet. Downspout pipes and sump pump pipes can be connected to it, and a catch basin can be combined with it to help remove standing water. Deeper French drains can also be used to drain groundwater.

Tips for building a French drain. Pre-assembled French drain options (such as EZ-Drain) can save time and effort in installation.

1. Dig out a ditch where your French drain will go. A standard French drain ditch is about 1.5 feet deep and 10-12 inches wide, varying based on the size of the pipe chosen (usually 4-6 inches) and the desired depth.
2. Line the ditch on all sides with landscape fabric to prevent soil erosion.
3. Place a layer of gravel at the bottom of the ditch.
4. A perforated plastic pipe is laid on top of the gravel and surrounded by gravel on the sides and top.
5. If topsoil and sod will be used to cover the French drain, the landscape fabric should be pulled over the top of the gravel before adding the topsoil.
6. If the gravel will be left exposed at the ground surface, the landscape fabric does not need to be pulled over the top of the gravel, but the edges should be protected to prevent sediment from entering the French drain.

3. Catch Basin

A catch basin is a collection box with a slotted drain at the top and a drainage outlet at the bottom. Surface runoff enters the inlet, passes through the collection box and exits through the outlet into a buried drainpipe. The catch basin should be placed at a low spot on the property so that water naturally runs to it (a grassy swale can be built to direct runoff to the basin). The buried drainpipe should discharge to  a suitable outlet. 

I am including some links on drainage issues that may be helpful-

https://webpages.uidaho.edu/larc380/new380/pages/harvestLandscape.html

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs141p2_034353.pdf

http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/html/g2186/build/g2186.htm

The links below are for rain gardens and their plants-

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/sewraingardens/files/2014/02/ShadyRGPlantList.pdf

https://extension.psu.edu/rain-gardens-the-plants

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eight_simple_steps_to_creating_rain_gardens

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/sewraingardens/files/2014/02/How_Build_RainGarden.pdf

Before installing any plants, it is best to soil test so you know your soil type, pH, and nutrient levels- https://homesoiltest.msu.edu/get-started

This is a lot of information, and I hope you can find a solution that fits your site and your preference. You can ask more questions here, or call our Garden Hotline during business hours at<personal data hidden>. Thanks for using our service.