new build house and clay soil

cyclonebri1

Nan_Dingle wrote: »

The garden in the house I've recently bought is also a clay horror. Not helped by the previous occupant "returfing" from a local field (so it appears) and also in an area of heavy rainfall.

TBH, I think the issue is there's minimal movement of water through the clay, so I'm not sure land drains would help that much, plus they get blocked up.

Which is why the OP, (whose garden is under discussion), would be best advised to change the top soil and install subsoil drains.

Things have moved on re clay drain pipes, as I said perforated weeping drains sat in pea gravel is the best option.

The OP has the option to fix this now, or battle with the pleasures of clay soil as long as they live there. ;)


And yes you are correct, there is absolutely minimal movement of rain water through solid clay soil, it does drain over time but the damage is done by then. This is why even with correct drainage an exit route for the drain has to be "created"

n90bar

thanks all for the input.

Land drain sounds like the way forward from the outset. I think the issue is going to be is installing some sort of soakaway as the lowest part of my garden is probably 4 feet higher than next door which we are seperated by a retaining brick wall....i dont suppose i really want the water seeping through it!

cyclonebri1

n90bar wrote: »

thanks all for the input.

Land drain sounds like the way forward from the outset. I think the issue is going to be is installing some sort of soakaway as the lowest part of my garden is probably 4 feet higher than next door which we are seperated by a retaining brick wall....i dont suppose i really want the water seeping through it!

I'm sorry to be the harbinger of woe or whatever especially as I suggested the way to go was by use of land drains, but, I deliberately put that little caveat in there if you recall. Something like "if you have somewhere to drain it to".

I have been on the receiving end of exactly the scenario that you are about to create if you install a soak-away near the neighbours wall.
What will happen is that the diverted/drained rainwater will be concentrated in a hole near the wall, unless you dig deeper than 4 ft all the water will attempt to drive through the wall, it will be an easier option than solid clay.

Again, sorry, but every action has an equal and opposite reaction in physics terms, in practice the effect can easily destroy a retaining wall.