i have a fenced square relatively flat lawn that is south facing, it gets the sun most of the day, however i have found that the lawn doesnt drain very well at all and even in the summer is quite damp and the back 40 % of the lawn is thick with moss. i have dug a few inches down and it does appear to be some clay present.

i have been advised to do several things including:
a 2ft by 2ft soakaway at the lowest point { not really an option as i have other gardens surrounding me and i fear affecting them as a result of this},

a herringbone drainage system to an existing drain :
either using a: garden liner based 4inch trenches filled with fine chipings
or b: circular porous drainage pipes in the above mentioned 4inch trenches { a costly possibillity},

and { the easiest option and possibly cheapest in my case } to rotivate in a couple of tonnes of sand, level the lawn and start again with seed or turf.

im really stumped as what best to do as i want to do it "right" first time and not have to be looking on here for answers this time next year again!

any advice would be great! cheers!

On May 19, 1:26*pm, THETWYS
wrote:
i have a fenced square relatively flat lawn that is south facing, it
gets the sun most of the day, however i have found that the lawn doesnt
drain very well at all and even in the summer is quite damp and the back
40 % of the lawn is thick with moss. i have dug a few inches down and it
does appear to be some clay present.

i have been advised to do several things including:
a 2ft by 2ft soakaway at the lowest point { not really an option as i
have other gardens surrounding me and i fear affecting them as a result
of this},

a herringbone drainage system to an existing drain :
either using a: garden liner based 4inch trenches filled with fine
chipings
or b: circular porous drainage pipes in the above mentioned 4inch
trenches { a costly possibillity},

and { the easiest option and possibly cheapest in my case } to rotivate
in a couple of tonnes of sand, level the lawn and start again with seed
or turf.

im really stumped as what best to do as *i want to do it "right" first
time and not have to be looking on here for answers this time next year
again!

any advice would be great! cheers!

--
THETWYS

Not only do not have the answer to which option is the best for your
problem which sound like mine, i have another reasonable appearing
suggestion given to me; lay down 1/4 inch of crushed rock (not gravel,
which is rounded, you need the sharp edges, they tell me) and another
1/4 inch of good compost on top of that and reseed.

.................................................. ................................................
hi mate thanks for your reply! that is indeed a new idea! have you done it yourself? does it work? im seriously open to suggestions! i ve had other advice from other forums and this is a new possibility! any rough info on the cost would be great! thanks for your time in replying!~ the twys!

On May 20, 7:28*pm, THETWYS
wrote:
z;793047 Wrote:



On May 19, 1:26*pm, THETWYS
wrote:-
i have a fenced square relatively flat lawn that is south facing, it
gets the sun most of the day, however i have found that the lawn
doesnt
drain very well at all and even in the summer is quite damp and the
back
40 % of the lawn is thick with moss. i have dug a few inches down and
it
does appear to be some clay present.

i have been advised to do several things including:
a 2ft by 2ft soakaway at the lowest point { not really an option as i
have other gardens surrounding me and i fear affecting them as a
result
of this},

a herringbone drainage system to an existing drain :
either using a: garden liner based 4inch trenches filled with fine
chipings
or b: circular porous drainage pipes in the above mentioned 4inch
trenches { a costly possibillity},

and { the easiest option and possibly cheapest in my case } to
rotivate
in a couple of tonnes of sand, level the lawn and start again with
seed
or turf.

im really stumped as what best to do as *i want to do it "right"
first
time and not have to be looking on here for answers this time next
year
again!

any advice would be great! cheers!

--
THETWYS-

Not only do not have the answer to which option is the best for your
problem which sound like mine, i have another reasonable appearing
suggestion given to me; lay down 1/4 inch of crushed rock (not gravel,
which is rounded, you need the sharp edges, they tell me) and another
1/4 inch of good compost on top of that and reseed.

.................................................. ..........................*......................
hi mate thanks for your reply! that is indeed a new idea! *have you
done it yourself? does it work? im seriously open to suggestions! i ve
had other advice from other forums and this is a new possibility! any
rough info on the cost would be great! thanks for your time in
replying!~ the twys!

--
THETWYS- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

haven't tried it but am seriously thinking of it. might just do a
limited test in one corner.

Not only do not have the answer to which option is the best for your
roblem which sound like mine, i have another reasonable appearing
suggestion given to me; lay down 1/4 inch of crushed rock (not gravel,
which is rounded, you need the sharp edges, they tell me) and another
1/4 inch of good compost on top of that and reseed.

Sorry but a 1/4 inches of any gravel will do nothing, in fact try to find
any gravel that is less than 1/4 inches in diameter that can be spread other
than stone dust also known in some areas as screenings. And a 1/4 of compost
over top won't add any help. The OP's thought of adding a couple of tons of
sand won't do much either, depending on the soil area you will need enough
sand to mix 50/50 with the heavy clay soil to start loosening it, and this
may take many tons of sand.

I used to live in an area where the soil was very heavy clay based, in fact
the area was a mecca for clay brick making plants, and I have only found
that adding lots of organic material will loosen the clay, and I have read
that adding gypsum will work too. I agree you should test small areas to see
what works on your particular type of clay.

thanks very much for your response! im still open to options as this blasted weather has put my efforts off for a week or so! ive calculated id probably need two tonne of sharp sand and approx a ton of top soil and well rotted manure to cover the area! and also a good rotivator! thanx again!