Drainage

[dipseydiva]

Hi, can anyone give me any advice on drainage. The top part of my plot has a band of clay going underneath it and it is like a mire. The lower part is well drained. People have suggested various solutions including digging a trench along the top of the plot to drain into a soakaway in the top corner. Do you think this would work and also would it, or would it not make it any worse for the next plot. Many thanks.

[sewer rat]

Hi D'diva
The trench (filled with gravel a la french drain) into a soakaway might work but you would still have to dig in a lot of organic nmatter / sand to help break up the clay so why not, rather than battle the elements, consider knocking together a raised bed or two as this would solve the problem for you, and you can then fill these with the material of your choosing - topsoil with compost,/peat /sand / leafmould / manure etc or whatever you want incorporated at the same time.

[Snadger]

You say it is damp at the top of your plot and dry at the bottom? If the plot is on a slope it would be an easy matter to drain the top area to the bottom where it will percolate away quickly!

[NOG]

Lots of compost and leaves in the winter and rotovate it all in.

[dipseydiva]

Many thanks for your suggestions, I do already have raised beds but the water still comes to the surface. I never thought about draining it to the lower ground, talk about an obvious solution staring you in the face.