Question
How can I correct a swampy backyard without going into a huge expense of installing drains?

Answer
Hi Cecele!

If your drainage problem isn't terrible, I think you can solve this problem without installing drains.

If you are on a slope (even a small one), you can direct water away from your house by putting in a kind of dry riverbed with stones and logs and such.

If your problem is more like puddles and general squishiness in your yard, a gorgeous and interesting solution is a "bog garden." These have been popular in Britain for some time and are becoming more common in the United States now. I'll list some links at the end of this message. Bog plants include iris, ornamental grasses, gunnera (a favorite of mine--giant and tropical like an elephant ear, but bigger, frillier, and darker), watercress, cranberries (a BEAUTIFUL plant and easy to care for), arums, reeds, rushes, astilbe, hosta, ferns, willows (make sure you don't put these very close to underground plumbing pipes!)etc.

If you search the Web, you'll find a lot of information on how to build a bog garden--most of which probably won't apply to you. However, you may want to take a look at descriptions of soil preparation... it's a little different for bog plants than for "regular" plants. You'll probably also see lots of information on ponds. You probably don't have that serious a moisture situation (I hope not!), but the plants suggested for the edges of ponds could work for you.

Aside from the fun of very interesting plants, one of the biggest bonuses of bog gardening is the wildlife that shows up. If you're a bird enthusiast, you're in for a real treat.

I hope this information gives you some ideas on where to start reading and planning. This is a really fun project!

Good luck!

http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/edibpond.html
http://www.lovetoknow.com/Landscaping/bog-garden.htm
http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/design/handbooks/watergarden/8.html