Will standing water ruin my cement?

We made a garden and pathway where one side of the garden is a pathway and the other side is crubing - they hold the dirt in, and water. The landscaper never put in any drainage, and the water just sits there sometimes forever. The cement has started coming up - like sandpaperish almost - slowly deteriorating, like little sand pieces flaking off. So it starting to look bad. It's been in for just over a year now, and there is a line of corrosion around the planter on the cement side. Was this bad concrete to start with? Or is the fact that there is no drainage causing this to happen? See, I thought that concrete would last forever, at least longer that a year! As for paying the guy - who knew that there was supposed to be flowers in there, should he have put drainage there? Also, I dug that area down, and put newspaper and cardboard over it, some gypsum, and then layed down the fresh planting soil and flowers. What's your conclussion on the problem? Thanks so much!

Will standing water ruin my cement?
The first thing you need to do is add some drainage because over time the water will eventually seep into your foundation if it is next to the house and you will have a wet basement it will also cause rot to the siding and eventually the framework there soil touching the siding will invite wood destroying insects like termites into your house as well. The "flaking of the concrete is caused by a process called "spalling" when the water seeps into the concrete and then freezes this causes the concrete to flake off or spall. Add the drainage and you will solve your problem.
Reply:Sounds like bad concrete to start with. Water can ruin concrete, but it takes time. I have a small pond made of nothing but concrete. No sealers or anything on it. I only drain it in winter, water soaking into your concrete then freezing will cause some damage. I got no problems with it. Your best bet would be to add drainage. As for the guy you paid, he should have put drainage. anytime you build something that wont let water move, you should add some type of drainage. Many people dont though, some just try taking short cuts, some just dont know.