I have the same problem (we live in York). I am using a method similar to that you have suggested. I invested in an auger and will do the holes manually (I know it will take hours). The problem is, I've dug down by at least 24 inches now and it is even thicker clay soil. I left it a while and have gone back and the hole has filled with water already - it doesn't look to be draining at all. Is this normal and if I do the entire garden, will it just create a huge bath for lots of standing water or is this likely to drain away?
We have had a very boggy back garden and a few weeks ago, my husband dug a massive hole to put gravel/ rocks in to help with drainage. Literally the next morning it was full of water and it hadn't been raining. Northumbrian Water have said it is probably an underground spring running through the back gardens. We're not sure the best course of action now. We have two small children desperate to play in the garden and a climbing frame waiting to be assembled! Any advice would be really appreciated!
Jen 5, it's hard to say how long any water will take to drain away- it depends on the water table level, ground saturation, etc. The most important thing to remember is this- if you drill sufficient number of holes and fill them with gravel as suggested then this should work fine as the gravel-filled holes will act as mini sumps. This means that effectively your lawn may still be holding the same amount of water but, crucially, the water is being held away from the surface of your lawn in the 2 foot boreholes that you have dug.
Helen, that's a tough one. I take it that yours is not the only garden that has this problem and that your neighbours' gardens are the same? Did you notice any change in the condition of your lawn-.i.e did the lawn seem less saturated after the hole had filled up with water? If so then you may be experiencing the same as Jen C above and the water may be migrating out of the soil and filling up the hole which is a good thing....
If you have a surface water drain then you might consider installing a herringbone drainage system and tying it in to your surface water drain. See link below.
I have the same, and I am thinking on the auger method, but drilling down through the clay and into the sand beneath. Even if 5 foot or more. If I do these and then use landscape fabric and pebbles, and maybe even T top the "well" with perc pipe, covered with a few inches of top soil and grass.......perhaps this will work?
I recently moved house to notice a very waterlogged back garden at the top and a downward slope, dry at the bottom. After trying to dig a trench it was still filling up and going nowhere. I now know there is compacted clay in the soil underneath and plenty of slabs (which I have dug out) and bricks. I was told that when the houses were built, my garden was the dumping ground. My neighbour dug two trench to the bottom and out through the fence onto even lower ground. I am going to attempt this but am having to dig up all the garden. And it is still sodden at the top and really waterlogged in bits of the trench in the clay????? Anyone have any suggestions, all and any welcome.
Billyc has the best answer, get the water from the surface into the ground. Before doing this however, dig a test hole, if it fills with water but does not empty within 48 hours this wont work, you will end up with water filled holes all over the garden.
Water has to be drained from the garden, the best way to do this is to install gravel drains that collect and disperse the water.
Hi I live in inland spain and my soil is mostly Clay. I would like to dig in loads of compost and gravel into my flower beds to promote drainage but my husband said builders gravel will kill plants. Horticultural grit is very very expensive to get here. Is hubby right?
It depends where the gravel has come from - if it's been dredged from the sea-bed and is unwashed it may contain seasalt which will damage plants.
However, my understanding of building supplies in the UK is that dredged gravel is usually washed and graded nowadays as concrete made from gravel containing salt will 'rot' and detiorate very quickly. I've no idea what the regulations are regarding building gravel in Spain.
If the gravel is from a quarry it should be fine.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've just moved into a house and have had the fencer in, securing the front lawn for my dogs. The lawn is very wet right now. But hey the fencer discovered it was laid on topo f a concrete patio - painted green no less.
They've suggested punching some serious holes in it, it would be a huge job to lift it all. The drainage is never going to be great. Can anyone suggest some grass tolerant enough to cope with these conditions?
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Billy C, HELLLLP! (please)
I have the same problem (we live in York). I am using a method similar to that you have suggested. I invested in an auger and will do the holes manually (I know it will take hours). The problem is, I've dug down by at least 24 inches now and it is even thicker clay soil. I left it a while and have gone back and the hole has filled with water already - it doesn't look to be draining at all. Is this normal and if I do the entire garden, will it just create a huge bath for lots of standing water or is this likely to drain away?
Hope you can help.
Thank you, Jen
We have had a very boggy back garden and a few weeks ago, my husband dug a massive hole to put gravel/ rocks in to help with drainage. Literally the next morning it was full of water and it hadn't been raining. Northumbrian Water have said it is probably an underground spring running through the back gardens. We're not sure the best course of action now. We have two small children desperate to play in the garden and a climbing frame waiting to be assembled! Any advice would be really appreciated!
Thank You, Helen.
Jen 5, it's hard to say how long any water will take to drain away- it depends on the water table level, ground saturation, etc. The most important thing to remember is this- if you drill sufficient number of holes and fill them with gravel as suggested then this should work fine as the gravel-filled holes will act as mini sumps. This means that effectively your lawn may still be holding the same amount of water but, crucially, the water is being held away from the surface of your lawn in the 2 foot boreholes that you have dug.
Helen, that's a tough one. I take it that yours is not the only garden that has this problem and that your neighbours' gardens are the same? Did you notice any change in the condition of your lawn-.i.e did the lawn seem less saturated after the hole had filled up with water? If so then you may be experiencing the same as Jen C above and the water may be migrating out of the soil and filling up the hole which is a good thing....
If you have a surface water drain then you might consider installing a herringbone drainage system and tying it in to your surface water drain. See link below.
http://newhorizonlandscapes.co.uk/lawncare-a-drainage/lawncare-services/drainage-systems.html
I have the same, and I am thinking on the auger method, but drilling down through the clay and into the sand beneath. Even if 5 foot or more. If I do these and then use landscape fabric and pebbles, and maybe even T top the "well" with perc pipe, covered with a few inches of top soil and grass.......perhaps this will work?
Hi
I recently moved house to notice a very waterlogged back garden at the top and a downward slope, dry at the bottom. After trying to dig a trench it was still filling up and going nowhere. I now know there is compacted clay in the soil underneath and plenty of slabs (which I have dug out) and bricks. I was told that when the houses were built, my garden was the dumping ground. My neighbour dug two trench to the bottom and out through the fence onto even lower ground. I am going to attempt this but am having to dig up all the garden. And it is still sodden at the top and really waterlogged in bits of the trench in the clay????? Anyone have any suggestions, all and any welcome.
Billyc has the best answer, get the water from the surface into the ground. Before doing this however, dig a test hole, if it fills with water but does not empty within 48 hours this wont work, you will end up with water filled holes all over the garden.
Water has to be drained from the garden, the best way to do this is to install gravel drains that collect and disperse the water.
This page explains how to DIY. http://www.flowerpotman.com/lawnsandgardendrainage/diygardendrainage.html
Hi I live in inland spain and my soil is mostly Clay. I would like to dig in loads of compost and gravel into my flower beds to promote drainage but my husband said builders gravel will kill plants. Horticultural grit is very very expensive to get here. Is hubby right?
It depends where the gravel has come from - if it's been dredged from the sea-bed and is unwashed it may contain seasalt which will damage plants.
However, my understanding of building supplies in the UK is that dredged gravel is usually washed and graded nowadays as concrete made from gravel containing salt will 'rot' and detiorate very quickly. I've no idea what the regulations are regarding building gravel in Spain.
If the gravel is from a quarry it should be fine.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've just moved into a house and have had the fencer in, securing the front lawn for my dogs. The lawn is very wet right now. But hey the fencer discovered it was laid on topo f a concrete patio - painted green no less.
They've suggested punching some serious holes in it, it would be a huge job to lift it all. The drainage is never going to be great. Can anyone suggest some grass tolerant enough to cope with these conditions?