Like most parts of the UK we had the most terrible rain this winter, and the flooding problems in the garden were far worse than last year. The pathway around the side of the house was flooded and I literally had to get up during the night and drill a hole in a garden wall to allow the water to run away before it inundated the property, and luckily did it quietly enough not to disturb my neighbours. I still have issues with the area of garden which was the subject of the earlier part of this thread, and I've decided to deal with it by digging out the top 18 inches or so of clay, hiring a skip to dispose of it, then filling the hole with gravel and putting a land drain in to take at least some of the water away. I've read on another site that gravel ain't no good because it reduces the volume of space available to accommodate the water, but at least the flooding from now on will be clean water rather than clay-stained filth.
As stated earlier, if I stay here long enough and carry on removing clay and replacing it with something else, maybe one day I'll be able to walk around the entire garden without falling into a stinking wet hole.
Yes clay is a nuisance in the winter months, but it does have it's good side as well. It is great for trees and shrubs, and it holds nutrients very well. Over time I've learnt by trial and error what grows best in this type of soil, and it's rewarding to see improvement over the years by adding organic matter, grit etc. There's lots of advice on web pages. Good Luck!
We seem to have a fair abundance of worms in our clay, which is a bonus, and admittedly, what does grow there seems to grow well. I suppose up until last winter I had kind of got used to minor flooding issues which tended to pass once the rain has finished and the soil had dried out, but the tremendous deluges of December and January brought it all back into sharp focus.
As it happens...I began to dig out the clay in the small area mentioned above, and by yesterday afternoon had removed about five bags and replaced it with 20mm limestone. Well, it rained heavily last night and guess what: yes, this morning my mini soakaway was a pond. So I shan't bother any more, and will take up knitting fog instead.
Hi Des lovely to hear from you a year later. We have been under water for most of the winter too, my lawn is ruined. My dear hubby had to knock holes in the stone wall to let the water out.
You could try digging in manure and fine gravel into your garden to improve the drainage a bit more. It's good that you have worms they will love a bit of manure too!
In other parts ot the garden I've done as you suggest and dug in manure, compost and in some cases gravel, but the particular area in question takes surface water from the entire patio, which is about 30 sq m in area and has generated a veritable ocean over the last few months. One evening in December there was quite literally a cataract pouring over the wall around the patio.
I'm afraid that unless I dig REALLY deep, perhaps six feet or so, I'm just not going to make any difference; and only with a mini digger could I achieve that, something which is impractical due to access. As stated above I did consider putting in a land drain, but the problem is where to take it because we're on a hill, and there isn't really any other route to dispose of the water other than through the garden of the neighbour immediately below us. And I'm sure he wouldn't welcome the advent of an unexpected, and intermittent water feature.
So the score remains clay 1, desthemoaner nil. Unless we get a few dry winters!
We are based in Hull which is low lying land still suffering from serious flooding back in 2007.
The water table in wet seasons is very high apparently,causing my flagstone patio to fllood during heavy rain, eventually draining 1 or 2 days later, however, I have dug down 1.2 metres and am still encountering clay
I have poured water into these holes to find it still holds water and doesn't drain away.
Logically, I presumed that eventually I would reach a depth where the water eventually drained naturally, not the case so far, garden is 50 square meters of which half is flagstoned.
We are based in Hull which is low lying land still suffering from serious flooding back in 2007.
The water table in wet seasons is very high apparently,causing my flagstone patio to fllood during heavy rain, eventually draining 1 or 2 days later, however, I have dug down 1.2 metres and am still encountering clay
I have poured water into these holes to find it still holds water and doesn't drain away.
Logically, I presumed that eventually I would reach a depth where the water eventually drained naturally, not the case so far, garden is 50 square meters of which half is flagstoned.
Hi...I hesitate to step on site Admin's toes, but it might be best to post your query as a new topic, lest like your garden (and mine) it gets submerged.
Hi. We have raised borders with railway sleepers so the lawn floods but my plants have at least 6" of soil/grit underneath them. around the patio we dug down about 1ft and half and put drainage pipe with the slots. weed membrane and gravel. Finally lawned back over. These pipes either go to gravel filled soak always under the lawn about 6 ft deep or drain onto field behind house. My borders are filled with manure to encourage worms, grit and topsoil so helps to break down the clay
Have been given an expensive quote to have drainage and sump installed. £1500 - £1800 is nothing to laugh at! However after reading your comments today you have all made me chuckle. I can relate to all your comments so thank you for cheering me up and will probably settle for raised beds.!!!!
Posts
Over a year on...an update.
Like most parts of the UK we had the most terrible rain this winter, and the flooding problems in the garden were far worse than last year. The pathway around the side of the house was flooded and I literally had to get up during the night and drill a hole in a garden wall to allow the water to run away before it inundated the property, and luckily did it quietly enough not to disturb my neighbours. I still have issues with the area of garden which was the subject of the earlier part of this thread, and I've decided to deal with it by digging out the top 18 inches or so of clay, hiring a skip to dispose of it, then filling the hole with gravel and putting a land drain in to take at least some of the water away. I've read on another site that gravel ain't no good because it reduces the volume of space available to accommodate the water, but at least the flooding from now on will be clean water rather than clay-stained filth.
As stated earlier, if I stay here long enough and carry on removing clay and replacing it with something else, maybe one day I'll be able to walk around the entire garden without falling into a stinking wet hole.
Yes clay is a nuisance in the winter months, but it does have it's good side as well. It is great for trees and shrubs, and it holds nutrients very well. Over time I've learnt by trial and error what grows best in this type of soil, and it's rewarding to see improvement over the years by adding organic matter, grit etc. There's lots of advice on web pages. Good Luck!
Thank you.
We seem to have a fair abundance of worms in our clay, which is a bonus, and admittedly, what does grow there seems to grow well. I suppose up until last winter I had kind of got used to minor flooding issues which tended to pass once the rain has finished and the soil had dried out, but the tremendous deluges of December and January brought it all back into sharp focus.
As it happens...I began to dig out the clay in the small area mentioned above, and by yesterday afternoon had removed about five bags and replaced it with 20mm limestone. Well, it rained heavily last night and guess what: yes, this morning my mini soakaway was a pond. So I shan't bother any more, and will take up knitting fog instead.
Hi Des lovely to hear from you a year later. We have been under water for most of the winter too, my lawn is ruined. My dear hubby had to knock holes in the stone wall to let the water out.
You could try digging in manure and fine gravel into your garden to improve the drainage a bit more. It's good that you have worms they will love a bit of manure too!
Hi again, Trifid.
In other parts ot the garden I've done as you suggest and dug in manure, compost and in some cases gravel, but the particular area in question takes surface water from the entire patio, which is about 30 sq m in area and has generated a veritable ocean over the last few months. One evening in December there was quite literally a cataract pouring over the wall around the patio.
I'm afraid that unless I dig REALLY deep, perhaps six feet or so, I'm just not going to make any difference; and only with a mini digger could I achieve that, something which is impractical due to access. As stated above I did consider putting in a land drain, but the problem is where to take it because we're on a hill, and there isn't really any other route to dispose of the water other than through the garden of the neighbour immediately below us. And I'm sure he wouldn't welcome the advent of an unexpected, and intermittent water feature.
So the score remains clay 1, desthemoaner nil. Unless we get a few dry winters!
We are based in Hull which is low lying land still suffering from serious flooding back in 2007.
The water table in wet seasons is very high apparently,causing my flagstone patio to fllood during heavy rain, eventually draining 1 or 2 days later, however, I have dug down 1.2 metres and am still encountering clay
I have poured water into these holes to find it still holds water and doesn't drain away.
Logically, I presumed that eventually I would reach a depth where the water eventually drained naturally, not the case so far, garden is 50 square meters of which half is flagstoned.
Advice please
Hi...I hesitate to step on site Admin's toes, but it might be best to post your query as a new topic, lest like your garden (and mine) it gets submerged.
Last edited: 12 July 2016 19:29:41
Hi. We have raised borders with railway sleepers so the lawn floods but my plants have at least 6" of soil/grit underneath them. around the patio we dug down about 1ft and half and put drainage pipe with the slots. weed membrane and gravel. Finally lawned back over. These pipes either go to gravel filled soak always under the lawn about 6 ft deep or drain onto field behind house. My borders are filled with manure to encourage worms, grit and topsoil so helps to break down the clay
Have been given an expensive quote to have drainage and sump installed. £1500 - £1800 is nothing to laugh at! However after reading your comments today you have all made me chuckle. I can relate to all your comments so thank you for cheering me up and will probably settle for raised beds.!!!!
i find raised beds easier on my back anyway! Good luck x