A puddle is the visible end of a water story. Before buying a drain kit, sketch roof outlets, paved surfaces, slopes and low points. Note whether the wet area appeared after construction, a new path or a change in irrigation.
Make the water visible on paper
Photograph the same points during and after rain from a safe location. Record when water appears and when it clears. Maryland Extension discusses drainage and compaction among common soil problems. Keep those possibilities distinct: a compacted patch is different from an entire low area receiving runoff.
Check simple contributors
Watch irrigation and look for leaks or repeated overspray. Note roof discharge without improvising a new outlet. A small adjustment may be appropriate for an irrigation problem, while grading and persistent saturation need more assessment. Keep standing water near a building separate from a purely cosmetic turf concern.
Prepare a useful professional brief
Bring the sketch, rain observations and photographs to a qualified drainage or landscape professional. Ask where water would go, how the solution would be maintained and what approvals or utility checks are needed before work. A French drain has to fit the site and have a suitable outlet; it is not a universal lawn accessory.
Do not dig a drain without understanding buried utilities, the outlet and the effect on nearby property.