Constant Flooding in Your Fulton Backyard? Here’s How I Solve It with a French Drain

Fulton, NY French Drains: Fix Backyard Flooding with a Custom Drainage Solution

If your lawn’s a swamp and your foundation’s at risk, here’s the fix I’ve been using for years.

In Fulton, NY, we get our fair share of rain and if you’ve got a flat yard or clay-heavy soil, you’ve probably noticed how that water doesn’t go anywhere fast.

I can’t tell you how many homeowners I’ve met in Fulton who’ve thrown down extra topsoil, planted more grass seed, or even tried regrading only to end up with the same soggy mess every spring and fall.

That’s when they call me. I’m Ed Forsthoffer, and I install French drains that give water somewhere to go before it eats away at your lawn, kills your plants, or seeps into your basement.

What’s Causing Your Backyard to Flood?

Fulton yards often have a few things working against them:

• Poor soil permeability. Our local soil holds water like a sponge, especially in lower areas.
• Low elevation and minimal slope. Without proper grading, water pools where it lands.
• Blocked or non-existent drainage paths. Water has nowhere to go but down—into your foundation.

If you’ve got puddles that hang around for days, or grass that turns yellow and dies off in patches, your yard’s drainage system is failing, or worse, you might not have one at all.

My Go-To Solution: A Custom French Drain System

French drains are simple in concept but incredibly effective, especially when they’re built the right way for your yard’s layout.

Here’s how I typically build them in Fulton:

1. Dig a sloped trench starting where the water pools and ending in a safe runoff area.
2. Lay a perforated drainage pipe, which allows water to enter and flow through.
3. Surround the pipe with clean drainage stone to help collect and filter water.
4. Wrap everything in landscape fabric to keep soil and debris from clogging the system.
5. Backfill and restore your lawn so you don’t even see the system, feel the results.

You’ll still get rain—but the water won’t stay in your yard, and it definitely won’t reach your foundation.

Real Results in Fulton: A Quick Story

A few months ago, I got a call from a family near Gansvoort Street in Fulton.

They had just finished a backyard makeover—new grass, raised beds, even a fire pit.

The problem? After every rain, the back third of their yard turned into a swamp. Water would pool right up to the steps of their sunroom.

I installed a French drain that ran under the lawn, between the garden beds, and out to a wooded drainage area.

One week later, the lawn dried up.

Two weeks later, they had friends over for a cookout, on the same yard that used to flood.

Signs You Need a French Drain

Still not sure if a French drain is right for your Fulton property? Here are a few red flags:

• Your lawn takes days to dry after it rains
• Water sits along your foundation or in flower beds
• You’ve spotted mold or musty smells in your basement
• You can’t mow certain areas without sinking
• Topsoil or mulch washes away after storms

If any of this sounds familiar, don’t wait. Moisture problems only get worse—and more expensive.

Let’s Fix That Flooded Yard for Good

I’m a U.S. Army Veteran and the owner of Ground Force Property Services.

I take pride in fixing the kind of problems other contractors don’t want to deal with.

And I don’t install cookie-cutter systems, I walk your yard, identify the problem, and build a custom French drain that solves it.

Give Ground Force Property Services, LLC a call at 315-461-7747, or schedule your free consultation.