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Boggy lawn, clay soil help

eimsmce0304eimsmce0304 Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi all,
We moved into our newbuild home over 2 years ago, which has a large drainage wall (with a drain behind it) in the garden, and our soil is very heavy clay. From day 1 we've had issues with a patch closest to the wall being very wet and puddled. I know the builders put a channel of gravel underneath but our lawn has become wetter and wetter in this one patch. There seems to be water seeping through the wall constantly so not sure if there's anything we can do from a gardening point of view but would love some advice.
I've tried aerating it with a fork each year, added compost previously and even planted some water loving plants nearby but it's gotten steadily worse.
Would adding gravel followed by topsoil make a difference? Or any other ideas?

Posts

  • eimsmce0304eimsmce0304 Posts: 5

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Another one of these newbuild drainage questions. Looks like the groundwater from behind the wall is coming through into your lawn. Your heavy clay isn't capable of draining it fast enough. You need a land drain which takes the water away from the base of the wall, I am not sure where without knowing your garden layout!
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • eimsmce0304eimsmce0304 Posts: 5
    Thanks for your response. I did think maybe a drain the length of the wall might be needed - though it would be pricey I'm sure! 
    We do have a small drain which I've marked on the left - this is *supposed* to drain away water from the channel. The one on the right is just our drain from the house. We do have a paved path where I'm standing for this photo.
  • MarwaneldallalMarwaneldallal Posts: 87
    I had a similar issue where the builders built my patio at a slight gradient down towards the garden so that water wouldn't stay on the patio...

    Only they hadn't factored in the clay soil we have and that as a result it wouldn't be absorbed as they'd assumed into the soil...

    The result was a rather muddy puddles just at the entrance to the garden. Pain in the ...

    Anyway, tried all sorts...

    In the end because grass just wasn't growing there anymore I bought ready made lawn...laid a mix of sand and soil and laid the lawn over it and it actually worked...the new lawn absorbed all the water it got and slowly grew into the existing lawn.

    Wasn't all that pricey...I needed about 3 metres of  the stuff.

    Might work for you. Worth a crack.


  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    If you could dig a trench, put a perforated pipe in the bottom, and fill with clean stone, that would help transport the water away. Not hugely expensive if you can do it yourself. You need somewhere to drain away to though, is there a gulley or drainage channel on your patio?
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • clare_graceclare_grace Posts: 27
    Or you could turn a negative into a positive. We had a very Wet corner and turned it into a flower bed. Planted water loving hydrangea, Salix and twisted willow bush. We no longer have the water problem and have some verY happy Plants those take up all the excess water. They look great and I never have to water!


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