Moe DeLoughan wrote:

....
In order of amount of effort involved:

0. leave it alone, it doesn't hurt a thing.


1. Use a core aerator to remove plugs of soil from the area; perform
this in the spring and the fall. Spiking/forking doesn't loosen soil
and thus doesn't improve drainage.
2. Reduce the shade and increase the air movement by pruning the
vegetation in the area.
3. Raise the grade by adding more soil (preferably a sharper-draining
soil mixture) on top of the existing soil; reseed or sod.
4. Cut a small channel or swale leading to a lower-lying part of the
lawn to improve drainage.
5. Amend the soil in the area with sand/some pea gravel to improve the
drainage.


songbird