new garden- hellish drainage-impacted clay

[Shirley Sherriffs]

HELP. Moved into new house in Febuary. back garden slightly elevated on horrible stickly clay soil which was compacted by all the dumper trucks the builder used to run up and down the site. Out turf was laid on this long before we moved in. With the worst rain I can remember this year we have a spongy soggy grassy area which is boggygish at the bottom and short of driving a 3' spike into it with a fencing mail to get thru the clay into drainable stuff we are saddened at the prospect of having permanently wet spongy lawn. The beds are wettish but better cos I have forked in loads of soil improver and composted cow manure so the plants are actually all doing really well although the delphiniums are wet looking. WE have already dug out 2 spade width wide /2 deep of clay soil out and replaced in with hardcore in the area we are having slabbed but what a work for us older folk. ANy suggestions ? And can cat wee kill a rown tree - I have a bad feeling about this cos I have a trunk protector on the tree but I cant protect the soil- naughty pussy cats.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Well, I know that brassicas like firm soil - and I guess that spuds are good for breaking up new ground, but as regards to flowers and lawn.....?

I think that maybe building raised beds would be good for you on your existing beds?

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine Shirley Sherriffs. You have a lot of questions in there. I think you will get better answers if you break them down and post them separately.
I hope the weather will improve for all of us.
If you haven't thought about it before - what about raised beds.
The answer is to find a gardening style that suits you - and the ground you have.