A low spot that keeps growing
A depression or uneven area may reflect settling fill, buried material, or soil moving beneath the surface.
Understand what’s happening below
Is Your Yard Sinking or Developing a Hole?
Don't Just Fill the Hole. Find Out Why the Ground Is Sinking.
A low spot, a growing depression, or an unexpected opening can leave you worried about your yard and home. Start with a closer understanding of the cause—and the next step that fits your property.
Yard settlementRecurring holesUnderground erosionUnstable ground
Recognize the signs
A change in your yard deserves a closer look.
Ground problems can appear suddenly or develop gradually. These signs are reasons to investigate, not a diagnosis of what lies underneath.
A hole that comes back
Adding soil can hide the opening while the underlying void, decay, or water movement continues.
Changes after rain
New depressions, washed-out soil, or changing drainage patterns may point to erosion or a drainage problem.
Look beneath the surface
Different causes.
Different next steps.
The visible hole is only part of the story. Understanding what is causing the ground to move helps guide an appropriate response.
Buried debris
Old buried materials can shift, compress, or deteriorate, leaving spaces that allow the soil above to settle.
Decomposing roots
Buried roots, stumps, and other organic material lose volume as they decay, creating low spots or voids.
Deteriorated drainage pipes
Damaged or leaking pipes can carry soil away or allow it to enter the pipe, undermining the ground above.
Underground erosion
Moving water can remove soil beneath the surface, even before the extent of the problem is visible.
Poorly compacted fill
Fill placed during earlier excavation or grading can settle over time if it was not adequately compacted.
An important distinction
Not every sinking yard is a geological sinkhole.
Natural geological sinkholes can form where water dissolves soluble bedrock, such as limestone, and the ground above settles or collapses into voids. Buried debris, decaying roots, pipe failures, and settling fill can create similar surface signs through different processes.
The cause cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.
Some properties need investigation by a geologist, geotechnical engineer, drainage specialist, or utility provider. An evaluation helps identify the questions that need answers before choosing a repair approach.
Homeowner resources: USGS guidance · Florida Geological Survey: settlement and sinkholes
Start with understanding
A thoughtful evaluation comes before a repair plan.
A useful evaluation considers the history of the property, visible conditions, and whether further investigation is needed.
Discuss what has changed
Note when the problem appeared, how it has changed, and any history of tree removal, buried debris, drainage work, or previous filling.
Review the conditions
Consider the affected area, surrounding drainage, and clues to earlier excavation or buried materials. Observations help narrow the possibilities.
Clarify the next step
Determine what still needs investigation and whether a specialist is needed before discussing an appropriate repair approach.
People's Ground Recovery
Get to the root of your ground problem.
Your yard is part of your home. Start by understanding why it is changing—and what should happen next.