I would love to know about this - but for Bermuda. I have a similar situation, the fence is the low point for both mine and my neighbors lawns. Bermuda is heavy stressed there because of the water logging to the point where black algae is taking over. Wondering if there's another way to solve it, than having to put a french drain.

 

I would love to know about this - but for Bermuda. I have a similar situation, the fence is the low point for both mine and my neighbors lawns. Bermuda is heavy stressed there because of the water logging to the point where black algae is taking over. Wondering if there's another way to solve it, than having to put a french drain.

When we moved in last fall the back yard was a mess but that spot was very clearly a catch basin between my yard and the neighbors. I asked them to mitigate the severity of the grade when they were prepping the lawn for sod, but in the end, water does have to go somewhere. I had hoped that with some significant core aeration and sanding this spring, the whole yard would take water better and the drainage would be less of an issue. This insanely wet winter/spring has proven my attempt at patience futile and I'm worried I've lost the area, as I probably won't aerate/sand for another month or so and every time it rains it stays soaking wet for another week.

That's why I'm wondering if I harvest it now and move it somewhere more favorable to recovery, would it come back, or should I just call it a loss?

 

@atticus I'm looking for the same answer. I only worked with Bermuda till now, but I believe if it's gonna have standing water in that place its best to have a french drain. The reason for that is constant saturated soil will promote fungus and other grass diseases - even if the grass ends up growing.
If the area itself is just functioning as a water drain way for the rest of the lot, and a neighbors lot - which is what's happening in my case - I'm not sure if french drain is the only way.
I figured I'm going to give my Bermuda a good boost while the rains are minimal in the early summer so that it can protect itself.

 

Another thing I noticed is there seems to be heavy thatch, like the grass was allowed to over-grow and was cut down late, which sometimes leaves lots of dead grass there covering the ground. Since its a small area, if you want to put in the work you can rake it all up. It's going to take a while but by the time you get done, it should be nice and tidy with sunlight hitting the soil so the grass can grow again.