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Lawn Drainage issues in new build.
chris.rpurnellK0MbUX_h
Posts: 1
Good evening all. Kind of at my witts end with this so have bitten the bullet and gone down the forum route. I've googled the hell out of this but every solution that seems viable always hits a wall for whatever reason. Our lawn has completely died over this winter due to water logging and is at the point its completely unusable. The house is covered in mud from the dog and kids going out there so is becoming a nightmare!
A bit of back story:
- We live in a new build, been here for 5 years, bought off plan (with regret, but our first home).
- The lawn (before it died) is approximately 19m^2, laid on heavy Essex clay.
- The lawn area boarders the boundary wall of the rear of the garden, and any part of the garden is within 2.5m of a boundary and 5m of ours or another property's (so no soak away possible).
- Due to the topography and location of the garden any drainage system ie. French drain, soakaway, sump is not possible as there is no where for the excess water to physically go without breaking building regs or encroaching on our neighbours properties.
- The lawn over this winter became so water logged that its now a mud pool. We've got a 2 year old that is desperate to play in the garden, but is unfortunately covered in mud anytime he goes out there!
- We also have a female dog which adds to the issues with urine etc.
As all of the conventional drainage solutions don't seem to fit our needs, I've realised we need to work with what we have.
So I'm thinking I will:
- Remove the thin layer of stagnent topsoil and 250mm of clay.
- Lay a bed of 20mm pea shingle approx 30-50mm deep.
- Fill the remaining 200mm with topsoil and a soil conditioner or manure and finally turf.
Will this work or am I weeing in the wind?
Thanks for reading. Your time is appreciated!
Any input would be gratefully received.
Many thanks
Chris.
A bit of back story:
- We live in a new build, been here for 5 years, bought off plan (with regret, but our first home).
- The lawn (before it died) is approximately 19m^2, laid on heavy Essex clay.
- The lawn area boarders the boundary wall of the rear of the garden, and any part of the garden is within 2.5m of a boundary and 5m of ours or another property's (so no soak away possible).
- Due to the topography and location of the garden any drainage system ie. French drain, soakaway, sump is not possible as there is no where for the excess water to physically go without breaking building regs or encroaching on our neighbours properties.
- The lawn over this winter became so water logged that its now a mud pool. We've got a 2 year old that is desperate to play in the garden, but is unfortunately covered in mud anytime he goes out there!
- We also have a female dog which adds to the issues with urine etc.
As all of the conventional drainage solutions don't seem to fit our needs, I've realised we need to work with what we have.
So I'm thinking I will:
- Remove the thin layer of stagnent topsoil and 250mm of clay.
- Lay a bed of 20mm pea shingle approx 30-50mm deep.
- Fill the remaining 200mm with topsoil and a soil conditioner or manure and finally turf.
Will this work or am I weeing in the wind?
Thanks for reading. Your time is appreciated!
Any input would be gratefully received.
Many thanks
Chris.
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