g'day connie,

drainage issues like this can be complex or simple, but they can also be difficult for others to suggest much because we aren't there or can't see it. so i'll do my best to see if we can suggest some help.

we probably need to start with the lay of you land, is there no slope?

are you at the bottom of a slope where all rain water runs to your yard?

is the water always there even when there is no rain involved?

and the one that may be difficult to determine the depth of the natural water table, was this reclaimed swamp type land? is it on the flood plain of a major waterway?

if it is all from water finding its way in one side of your property for migher ground then you may have to consider installing a french/agricultural drain.

see our presentation.

you will need some natural flow so the water the drain collects can be redirected to some other place, being carefull not to direct it to a neighbours property, there are generally laws governing that and liabilities involved.

sounds like the sub soil is clay? so natural soakage will be poor. and of course the water may not all be coming from teh same course, it could be a combination.

but you will i think always need raised beds and you may have to make them higher, the same/similar process when planting lots of tree types say especially citrus.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens ag drain

Unless where you are has a very high water table then what the soil needs is organic matter which will open up the pore spaces between the soils mineral particles so water can flow through. Since the drainage problem did not occur overnight it will not be solved overnight and will take years of adding large amounts of organic matter so raised beds will be necessary for you.