Water logging
Notsogreenfingers2
Posts: 1
Hi - I'm looking for advice to help my waterlogged garden but I am a complete garden novice so any links to more advice really appreciated!
Small, south facing garden, new build property. The end of the garden is shaded most of the time by neighbours trees. Between offering and completing (autumn) none of the leaves were cleared from the end of the garden - we cleared them promptly but the grass has died underneath. Since the winter started the garden has got progressively wetter...and today (having rained last 24hours) there are standing pools of water along the back. I think the problem is a combination of compaction/poor preparation during building, shading, and the leaves! Further forward the ground is a bit wet and gets squelchy as you go back.
Planning to put a shed in one back corner and a play area in the other with raised beds in between. Do I need to do anything to improve the ground before starting on these? And in terms of the shed and play area whats the best way to prepare the ground first - I don't want to just lay paving and plonk a shed on as I don't see where all the water will go?!
Should we spike the rest of the lawn or just wait for spring and see what happens?
Any advice gratefully received!
Posts
Well your'e probably right about the causes. New builds nearly always have trouble, the builders aren't gardeners, they just want their money at the end of the day. Having said that, flooding in a garden could be a reason to make a claim against the builder and any guarantee you may have. They should take reasonable steps to prevent any flooding, but it depends on what is in the guarantee. You could consult the solicitor who dealt with the purchase, builders if pushed, often quickly rectify and problems they leave behind, reputation matters.
Solving the problem will require digging up the compacted area to a depth of several feet, removing the builders rubbish. Once that it removed you will have to see how the ground drains normally. It could be that removal of the rubbish will solve it almost immediately but you won't know till it's done.
If it drains normally you can import topsoil and do what you want with it, but you won't know till after the rubbish is removed.
Putting down a base for a shed and patio is easy stuff, but pointless as you have realized.
Once the drainage is sorted, come back for any advice on hard landscaping.
you don't mention what type of soil it is. I garden on heavy clay and this quite simply doesn't drain. Do you know what kind of soil is prevalent in your area?
Definetly dig some holes/trenches to see what you might have hiding under the superficial layer of top soil usually spread over the rubbish by the builders. Topped off with some cheap turf it looks lovely, just long enough to sell the houses.
Compaction is often a cause, a poor dainage system, low lying land, naturally occuring clay soil can all be reasons. No point in trying to start a garden until you have found out the reason for your flooding.
I dug up a whole bicycle from one of my gardens. A good way to see what type of soil you have is to have a walk around an old established area nearby, look at other people's gardens and what is growing in them. Lots of heather, camellias, rhodedendrons and azaleas means it is acid, lavenders, carnations and pinks means an alkaline soil. Also ask local people about their gardens, they are usually only too happy to help.
Good luck.