I can give it a try, I did have the fork sunk right down, pulling it up and turning it over and getting the fork in again, it was soft, dry and crumbling
Not sure really what to do now, I can drain and dig out another 1ft to see what happens at that level but not really ideal. With forking the ground that would have broken up and turned over a half ft so really at 2.5ft.
I can’t see any point in backfilling if it’s not draining after 19hrs, I may have to look at drainage options again.
Am I right in what I am saying that by backfilling is just pointless until I get to a stage where it drains?
The water might still be there but is the depth the same or is there more? You have just reminded me that I dug a 4ft square area for a water feature in our new build so did go down at least a 18 inches. It puddled water so I chucked in some gravel laid sleepers around the top and put in a reservoir and back filled around and planted a flower bed around it. Just repositioned it last month and when I lifted the reservoir it still had the same amount of water underneath. I have just refilled the area and replanted. So... if the level isn't rising and water can flow down through your top layers it's unlikely to come up surely?
Its the same water, same depth nothing has drained away at all, and no increase in water level.
My thinking is that if its not draining 2.5ft down then eventually it will back up, maybe not... but if its not draining its not draining and I think thats a problem, but hoping someone can tell me different
If enough water collects to raise 2.5ft your whole garden would be flooded! I think you are over thinking this, but probably best you leave the area until after we have had some rain and check the level again, if it hasn't changed much you will be ok to backfill. You have nothing taking up the water when it rains either, trees use a lot of water. Once again you have reminded me of another new build we lived in and I dug a hole for a tree and next day it was half full of water so i spiked a fork into the sides and bottom without much success and instead of the tree I was going to plant put in a Kilmarnock Willow, not my favourite tree but it was doing well when we moved!
Yeah I feel I am over thinking it but I just don’t want to backfill to then take out again 😂 I just see it as the water is not going away that’s bad.
I have another idea, I had thought of this before but wanted to try the digging area first.
plan b...
I have 2 massive laurels at the back of the garden the area is slight higher but not much not enough to call a slope. Anyway the plan is dig a soakaway between the trees see photos 1x1x1m for a soakaway, channel drains to here.
The ground is so soft and dry and the laurels will take a lot of water away.
The main issue will be getting a good run but I think I’ll be ok getting that.
Sounds a good plan 🤗 Although you could dig a channel in front of both laurels, put down some pea shingle, lay a perforated 100mm drainage pipe and cover with more shingle and do the same down your border but don't use perforated pipe.
Thinking just run the pipe all the way along the border, needs to turn off along the laurels anyway so hopefully work. Pipe isn’t that much and it’s being dug anyway.
Your depth would depend on the height you start at, test water runs to it with a hose. As to width if you want to leave it gravel whatever looks in proportion. If your digging is anything like mine I end up with a trench double the size I wanted but it does depend also on your laurel roots.
Sorry meant to say down the border use perforated pipe otherwise the water won't get in!
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Not sure really what to do now, I can drain and dig out another 1ft to see what happens at that level but not really ideal. With forking the ground that would have broken up and turned over a half ft so really at 2.5ft.
You have just reminded me that I dug a 4ft square area for a water feature in our new build so did go down at least a 18 inches. It puddled water so I chucked in some gravel laid sleepers around the top and put in a reservoir and back filled around and planted a flower bed around it.
Just repositioned it last month and when I lifted the reservoir it still had the same amount of water underneath. I have just refilled the area and replanted.
So... if the level isn't rising and water can flow down through your top layers it's unlikely to come up surely?
My thinking is that if its not draining 2.5ft down then eventually it will back up, maybe not... but if its not draining its not draining and I think thats a problem, but hoping someone can tell me different
I think you are over thinking this, but probably best you leave the area until after we have had some rain and check the level again, if it hasn't changed much you will be ok to backfill.
You have nothing taking up the water when it rains either, trees use a lot of water.
Once again you have reminded me of another new build we lived in and I dug a hole for a tree and next day it was half full of water so i spiked a fork into the sides and bottom without much success and instead of the tree I was going to plant put in a Kilmarnock Willow, not my favourite tree but it was doing well when we moved!
I have another idea, I had thought of this before but wanted to try the digging area first.
plan b...
I have 2 massive laurels at the back of the garden the area is slight higher but not much not enough to call a slope. Anyway the plan is dig a soakaway between the trees see photos 1x1x1m for a soakaway, channel drains to here.
The ground is so soft and dry and the laurels will take a lot of water away.
The main issue will be getting a good run but I think I’ll be ok getting that.
Although you could dig a channel in front of both laurels, put down some pea shingle, lay a perforated 100mm drainage pipe and cover with more shingle and do the same down your border but don't use perforated pipe.
anyone know then depth the pipe should be at?
As to width if you want to leave it gravel whatever looks in proportion.
If your digging is anything like mine I end up with a trench double the size I wanted but it does depend also on your laurel roots.
Sorry meant to say down the border use perforated pipe otherwise the water won't get in!