Drainage problem in garden?
I need some help and advice.
Our garden is approximately 30 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a gentle slope downwards away from the house. Unfortunately, the soil is clay and is holding onto the water like a sponge. Water isn’t draining well at the bottom of the garden due to their being gravel boards along the boundary fence, so ends up pooling on the surface when it rains heavily.
I have been told I would need to make a soakaway and would ideally like to do this as cheaply as possible.
Some people have advised me to dig a deep hole near the bottom of the garden and fill with gravel etc. Other people have advised me to dig a 1ft deep trench parallel to the bottom fence so that all the water from the garden flows down due to gravity and stops in the trench.
Yet more people have said I need to dig multiple drainage channels leading to a deep hole, again filled with stones etc.
Ideally I would like to get rid of all the clay, but that currently isn’t an option.
Help!
How about a low wall to prevent the water running down to the end of the garden – then have a natural small pond there. Might be the cheapest way to go.
As a plumber I would agree with the first option. A ‘soakaway’ really is the best option! It needs filling with gravel and sand to a depth of 4 feet at least. Planning permission may be needed if you are a private person. Circa £500 is a good asking price.
Soak away is the best answer. You don’t need planning permission and you may find the clay is only a couple of feet deep. If so the water will escape/drain under the clay. I agree with four feet deep and filled with gravel. With regard to the drainage channels to the soak away, if you want to do a super duper job then yes, put some in, however your garden isn’t very large, so two, running out at an angle of 30 degrees from the soak away to the edge of the garden should do the trick. Get some perforated land drainage pipes for this, approx. 8″ in diameter, and bed them in a gravel filled trench, cover with gravel and then replace the soil/turf. Job done.
Amending your clay soil probably your best option and is easier than you may think. Not only do you have the pooling problem, but it’s not good for the plants either. I live in OK and we have loads of clay. When I purchased my home the whole yard was clay and I had to spend the first season amending it. If you have time then all you need to do is loosen the soil around the plants and start adding things like:
sand
peat
composted manure
dried grass clippings
leaf litter
compost
Work these ingredients into your soil yearly and before you know it you clay will have broken down and you will be left with fabulous soil.
If getting the soil right is too much of a problem then why not think about raised beds. Just remember to put drainage holes in the sides and put a layer of coarse material in the bottom.