Method to Improve Drainage 2006
The first year I put in drainage pipe across and down the yard for about 300 feet all by hand alone.

The pictures doing my property were lost so I present this as typical.
http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?CBLUO

I assisted due to my previous experience. This ditch is about 18 inches deep with gravel in the bottom and plastic 5 inch weeping pipe on top then covered in gravel and sod. Now all the surface water is run to the street storm sewers. A simple sump about 2 feet square was put at street level to drain into the storm sewer. The sod was removed with my kick sod cutter, and then the sod was replaced. About 9 yards of gravel was required for 300 feet of trench, and the trench dirt was placed at the back of the property.

This only took about 18 hours with four people working.