Getting rid of water on outside of house

[Robert P.]

Question - I have about 3 feet on the side of my house where it's just dirt and junk. I'm currently getting some water intrusion along that same wall in the basement. I've checked gutters and there does not seem to be any leaks or puddling in this area (although I've noticed very soggy mud when it rains a lot)

For the time being I am going to dig it down a little, put a plastic liner type down, then add soil and grade it away from the house. Hoping that will work.

Then I was thinking, I wonder if it would make sense to asphalt this area with a grade again away from the house. Shouldn't be that expensive and would work. Am I missing something? What would you do in this area to displace water from draining down and into my fieldstone foundation?