Poor drainage in your yard can make for a soggy situation. Whether you're tired of stepping in puddles, worried about foundation damage, or looking to protect your landscape plants from rot, drainage improvement projects can help.

Solving the soggy yard problems, particularly putting in a French drain, may require a lot of manual labor, though. And that's where rental equipment comes into play. Choosing the right power tools and machinery can help you maximize the effects on drainage and minimize the amount of time and effort you spend on the project.

Here are a few types of rental equipment you could use for a drainage improvement project.

1. Trencher or Backhoe

Drainage trenches can be absolutely essential if you want to divert water from a low-lying area, insert a French drain, or bury a downspout extension. But whether you're going to fill the trench back in or not, digging it in the first place can be hours of work.

One equipment option for this situation is to rent a backhoe and hire a backhoe operator. However, this works better for larger trenches. A backhoe's scoop is so large that a precision French drain trench isn't really a backhoe specialty.

Another option for the French drain trench is a trencher. Using a trencher can allow you to quickly and easily create the exact trench you need. One benefit of using equipment rather a shovel is that because it's so much easier than digging by hand, you won't be tempted to skimp on the size or depth of the trench.

2. Skid Steer Loader

Another piece of machinery that can help out when moving around soil, gravel, sod, and other materials is a skid steer loader.

Skid steer loaders aren't designed for digging out a precision trench, but once you've installed the pipe, these machines can fill the trench back in easily. In addition, this type of machine is designed for loading, meaning it can help you remove any excess dirt to another area of your yard with much less effort than a shovel and wheelbarrow would take.

3. Auger

Some drainage problems require a dry well. An auger can help you to turn this into a DIY project. You'll just need to use the auger to drill a hole straight down. You'll then insert a drainage sleeve filled with gravel, which will allow water to drain away more easily during a heavy rain.

4. Sod Cutter

If you pride yourself on having a great lawn, you may want to carefully lift the sod off the area before digging a trench. A sod cutter can help you with precise, clean cutting so you know the sod pieces will fit nicely back in later.

Once you've cut it out, you can simply set the sod aside. Complete your French drain or buried pipe project, and return the sod to its original spot after the project is complete.

5. Reciprocating Saw

Typically, the pipes used for French drains come pre-slotted so you won't have to drill holes in the pipe. Depending on the amount of space you have for the drain, however, you may need to cut the pipe down to size. For this task, a reciprocating saw will come in handy.

If you buy the pipe at a home improvement store, you may be able to have the personnel at the store cut the pipe for you (if you already know what length you need). Otherwise, a rental saw may be your best option.

These are just some of the rental tools and equipment that could come in very handy when you need to fix a drainage problem in your yard. Whether you're looking for a smaller skid steer loader or a large machine like a backhoe, Ever-Joy Rent All has you covered. Give us a call today to learn more.