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Waterlogged Soil
Hi
House I have moved into has a section in the garden that is water logged. The border along the grass is about 15m long, The width from fence to grass is about 0.75/1m. In about the middle and for about 3/4m is so waterlogged and soggy.
I am thinking of getting drainage installed across the grass when I get the patio done, I am looking for some advice to help the situation initially. The soil is so thick and clumpy and believe it is clay ground.
Couple ideas I have thought of but no idea if it will actually help?
1. Remove a full width (fence to grass) and 2 spades worth deep. Back fill with manure and top soil
2. The above... plus dig out another spades depth worth and line the ground with some gravel from driveway stones that I am digging up (pink ones that are common in driveways)
Thanks
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dug more out where it is most soggy and added a bag of manure and then back filled with the soil I took out from second dig.
the top layer will be dumped.
what’s best to back fill the spades worth deep I took out? Any views on the above?
Spread on top it will dry out, if what you have done hasn't improved the area whatever you put back will become waterlogged again.
Looking at the area where your fork is it does look very compacted so hopefully your digging will improve your drainage
Dumping the top layer as it was full of roots, weeds etc and to make way for some new top soil and manure to try help break down the existing soggy stuff.
I had read that bark mulch was good also to add in to obsorb the water?
Futher up in that section is some replanted bushes from other areas that I have cleared.
The area that has been dug out, and back filled with double dig turned over soil and manure is like a pond. Is this because Ive not added the final new top layer? I would have expected it the drain away still and not be as bad?
My neighbours garden is not like this on either side of me and this is the only section of garden like this.
Any ideas?
We will be getting a new patio laid as part of the renovations. The landscaper had suggested drainage when doing the fence, when we come to do the patio, as the grass was soggy. He hadn’t seen the side like this as had been dry.
That soil was turned over by a digger also when the fence was put in a 4 conifer single tree’s removed fully.
The rain was heavy last night but again there must be an under lying reason for it not draining. There are no houses out the back of me so ideally run the water to there or add into the grass draining and where the landscaper thought that could go.
I don’t want to add a final top layer or any plants under it is sorted. It was waterlogged when the conifers were in also, I thought by digging, turning, removing and backfilling might do the trick but as you have both meantioned something else going on.
Is a landscaper best to look at this or someone else?
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham