clay v topsoil

bungaro · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Posts: 15

hi all!

been doing a lot of research here and on other sites as i've been having big problems with the drainage in my back garden the last couple of years. the house is about 4 years old in a new (ghost) estate and it looks as though the builders didn't put too much work into the gardens.

the back garden is north facing and doesn't get a huge amount of sun (especially in the winter). i think there are some parts which don;t get any direct sun at all. following advice i dug some test holes and it looks like about a foot down that theres a layer of compacted stones. so i'm assuming that this is the major problem and would need to be excavated but how far down would i have to go??

and this brings me to my last question, i don't know what type of soil i have in the garden but after reading some threads on here i'm thinking its more clay than topsoil. how do i know exactly what i'm dealing with?? if possible i'd love to avoid having to get a digger in to do the whole garden as its not that big and am hoping that i might be able just to dig up the clay (if thats what it is) and put down a layer of topsoil and horticultural grit. if it helps i can post up some photos.

thanks!

Greengage · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:05 pm Post subject:

most likley your problem is caused by compaction by heavy machinery during the building, Check the soil locally to see what it like if you are on a ghost estate there must be plenty of top soil lying around, When the weather improves rotovate it with a large rotovator not a merry tiller which will drag you around the garden, you can then add grit or manure and rotovate it in,
It you have heavy clay soil you could also have a hard pan ynderneath which could cause flooding as water will not be able to drain away, without acyually being on site its difficult to diagnose, im sure more peole will have other suggestions.

bungaro · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Posts: 15

thanks greengage.

trying to upload pics of the garden but they are too big. if the compacted stones are about a foot down is there anything i can do with this that doesn't involve using a digger???

Greengage · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:57 pm Post subject:

If you have stones and not a hard pan it should drain easily.