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How best to solve drainage problem?

neilhenthornneilhenthorn Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi  :)

My front garden is a heavy clay soil that slopes towards one corner of the house. Currently lawned, in bad weather it floods, and is causing a damp issue in the property. It needs revamping and I'm considering all options (patio, gravel etc), but the main thing is to stop the flooding. I did try a french drain, which worked well for a couple of years but has clogged up. I'd like to know the most cost effective way to tackle this while creating a low maintenance garden.

Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Plants that like boggy conditions?  Bushes and shrubs will help to draw the moisture out quicker than grass.  
    Utah, USA.
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  • danielthefrazerdanielthefrazer Posts: 9
    As above. They may recommend digging a significant-sized sump, filled with sump crates and direct channels towards it. Not something that's easy to do yourself unless you're a bit of a machine. 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Plant a tree away from the house and create a bank to direct the water run off away from the house towards the tree. Grass is a poor absorber of heavy rainfall, especially on a clay subsoil
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • stuart.dotstuart.dot Posts: 127
    You need some soakaways I would think. If you get hold of a post auger, it's fairly easy to dig a series of 6" diameter holes without disturbing the surrounding soil. Fill with gravel and see how you go.  
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  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Our drive drains towards the bungalow, got aco drains, also clay soil here.  or you could try a water garden.
  • jaybothehoodjaybothehood Posts: 24
    I would dig a big hole, put a water butt in the hole, then a sump pump with float switch in the water butt. That is how i deal with the waste water from my pond filters. 
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