Question
We live in Maryland and our backyard is a mixture of many types of grass and we have many mud patches. When it rains the water seems to collect around the yard in pools and it almost seems to flood certain areas. What should I do before I put down sod? I am sure I need to put down new soila but what else should be done? Should I be setting up a draining system, irrigation system? And is it too late to sod? It is coming toward the end of Oct and the weather is changing. I should also tell you I have two boxers and two childre. I hope you can help me. I would really like to reclaim my backyard.

Answer
It definitely sounds as if you have a drainage problem that needs to be addressed.  Unfortunately, I couldn't really know the specifics without an actual on-site inspection.  

You seem to have the right idea.  Get the drainage issue settled first, then put in some good soil and sod.  For that, I can only recommend consulting a few local landscapers to see what they have to say.  If you get several of them out, you should be able to figure out which of them seems to know what they are talking about.

Thanks Rebekah.  Good luck.

-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com