Ask the Plant Doctor: How to deal with stagnant water in your garden

Compacted soil hinders water infiltration, movement and drainage, causing water to pool and, in turn, dead grass. Photo: Handout

Do you have a question about plants or how to maintain your garden? Send your questions to the Plant Doctor! Email your questions to [e-mail] with "Plant Doctor" in the subject field. Questions may be edited for brevity and clarity.

Dear Plant Doctor,

There is a brown patch of land in my garden with a diameter of about 70cm that retains rainwater whenever it rains. The grass is dead there, and when it rains, the muddy water from there will flow out to the other parts of the garden, making a mess. I made some holes in that area (10cm deep) to try and resolve the issue, but it did not work. Please advise. – Khadijah

The situation in your garden suggests a soil-compaction problem. Compacted soil hinders water infiltration, movement and drainage, causing water to pool and, in turn, dead grass.

To address this, consider the following options. You should aerate the soil more deeply.

Use a lawn aerator or garden fork (both of which can be purchased online) to pierce the soil to a deeper depth of 15-20cm. This creates channels for water penetration and root growth.

Alternatively, the soil can be turned over to loosen it and check for any underlying compacted layer. If a hard layer is found, break it up with a shovel or hoe. After aeration, incorporate organic matter like compost or mulch into the top few centimetres of soil. This improves soil structure and drainage over time.

Observe the water flow patterns during heavy rain. You may need to create a shallow depression (called a swale) to divert water to your garden drain.

Refer to online resources on how a swale can be constructed in your garden.

For severe cases, consider a below-ground French drain, which is unnoticeable above ground but will require professional installation.

Another option is to create a raised bed over the affected area using fertile soil.

Alternatively, you can establish a rain garden – a shallow depression planted with water-loving native plants.

This turns your drainage problem into a garden feature! While implementing these solutions, the foot traffic in the area should be minimised to prevent further compaction.

With patience and consistent effort, you should see improvements in drainage and overall garden health.

Assoc Prof Dr Christopher Teh heads the Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia. His field of specialty is in soil and water conservation. The views expressed are entirely his own.