Draining my really wet lawn

jaajack · Hazel Tree Joined: 14 Oct 2009 Posts: 1

I have a lawn out back circa 40m by 25 that is wet for 9 months of the year. Recently sprayed to kill the rushes which has shown up the lack of grass that actually grows on it! Land before I touched was never the driest (family site) but never too bad. When putting in the lawn I put tile drains every 10 feet but they seem to be having no effect. i think my problem stems from the fact that i have a geo thermal heating system with pipes laid under the lawn and soil backfilled by a large track machine which as compacted the site. these pipes at a dept of circa 2 1/2 feet limit my abilty to dig too deep. Happy to do whatever i have to to fix it...........anyone got any suggestions?

Belfast · Ash Tree Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 236 Location: CSA

fixing compacted soil is a slow job.
it can take years to get soil back in good condition
How to Fix Compacted Soil
http://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Compacted-Soil

michael brenock · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:10 pm Post subject:

your problem may be poor drainage or soil that has poor structure, too sticky and does not allow the water to drain off. test your soil first. Take a fistful of soil and when it is wet squeze it hard then drop it on to a hard surface from a height of 60 cms (2ft), If the lump breaks into many parts the soil structure is ok but if it stays intact the soil is unable to drain off the surplus water. You can improve the situation by digging in or rotavating in sand gravel moss peat or spent mushroom compost. Try a small are first (a fewsquare feet)and seeif it works.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired)