Garden Help
Diagnose plant problems and treat garden pests


Get Gardening Help!

Home > Projects >

How to keep a lawn drained


You will need: Fork

A lawn is a vital parts of most gardens providing somewhere to play and relax. The more you use your lawn the more likely it is that compaction will give you problems with drainage which will spoil the look of the grass.

Best time to do it:

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Step 1

Step 1 of How to keep a lawn drained

Where water is sitting on the surface of the lawn drive a fork down into the soil to the full depth of the tines over the entire area.

Step 2

Step 2 of How to keep a lawn drained

Rocking the fork backwards and forwards as you work will open up holes down into the soil to speed up drainage.

Step 3

Step 3 of How to keep a lawn drained

In severe cases you can rock backwards on the fork to lift the surface and create large air pockets underneath for drainage.

Step 4

Step 4 of How to keep a lawn drained

Work from the far side of the lawn using a board if necessary to spread the weight and save causing any further damage.

Related FAQs


Ask a gardening question:




Latest Gardening News



Latest Gardening & Horticultural Careers


Explore Gardens from Around the World


Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
Pamplemousses, Mauritius

Missouri Botanical Garden
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

RHS Garden, Wisley
Woking, United Kingdom

Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona, USA



Watch a Video!

How do I
How do I 'thin' grape bunches?
Weed Control Using Mulch
Weed Control Using Mulch
How to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
How to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
Why are there brown / black marks on my Hellebores?
Why are there brown / black marks on my Hellebores?
How do I protect my grapes from insects?
How do I protect my grapes from insects?
How do I protect container plants from the cold?
How do I protect container plants from the cold?