🕳️ What Is a Sinkhole—and How to Fix It the Right Way
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Discovering a soft spot or sinking area in your yard can be alarming, especially if it seems to be growing over time. Homeowners often assume it’s a drainage problem, but in many cases, that mysterious depression in your lawn is actually a sinkhole—and it’s more common than you might think.
At Hannah Outdoor Designs, we see sinkholes pop up all over the Metro Atlanta area, and most of them trace back to one of two main causes: old buried debris or rotting organic material left behind when the home was built.
🔍 What Causes a Sinkhole?
When new homes are built, the construction process doesn’t always leave the ground as clean and compact as it should be. Over time, the following conditions can lead to the formation of sinkholes:
1. Old Tree Stumps or Roots
In many older yards, trees were cut down before the house was built and the stumps were buried instead of removed. As the wood decays over the years, it leaves behind a void underground. The soil above that empty space eventually collapses, creating a sinkhole.
2. Buried Construction Debris or Trash
In some cases, builders disposed of leftover materials—such as lumber, drywall, concrete, or even trash—by burying them on site. These materials eventually break down and settle, causing the surface soil to drop.
3. Poor Soil Compaction
If the soil wasn’t properly compacted during construction or landscape grading, the ground may settle unevenly, especially after heavy rainfall. This can exaggerate depressions and create small sinkholes over time.
⚠️ What Happens If You Ignore It
A small dip might not seem like a big deal, but ignoring a sinkhole can lead to bigger problems:
Tripping hazards and unsafe walking areas
Poor drainage that directs water toward your home’s foundation
Lawn or structure damage as the void grows and soil continues to settle
Early repair prevents the problem from spreading and protects your landscape investment.
🛠️ How to Properly Fix a Sinkhole
At Hannah Outdoor Designs, we follow a proven process to fix sinkholes correctly and permanently:
1. Excavate the Area
We dig out the soft or sunken section to locate the cause—whether it’s decaying tree roots, buried wood, or debris. All unstable material is removed.
2. Compact the Base
Once cleared, we compact the surrounding soil to create a solid foundation. Proper compaction prevents future settling.
3. Backfill with Quality Material
We fill the void with a stable, clean fill such as crushed stone or compactable soil (like #57 stone or clean fill dirt. This allows for proper drainage and long-term support.
4. Regrade and Restore
The area is regraded to ensure correct drainage, and then we finish it off with sod, gravel, mulch, or whatever surface best fits your landscape design.
At Hannah Outdoor Designs, we don’t just patch the surface—we find the root cause and fix it for good
