garden is a mud bath

weemissy

I don't know if this is the right place for this. I know it doesn't fit in with money saving or eco friendly but thinking of getting synthetic grass for my back garden:o. We only have a small back garden, have trees and shrubs, going to plant my veggies, got a compost bin etc, but the grass is really really getting me down:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:, We returfed 2 yrs ago, reseeded last year and looking at it now it is just an absolute mud bath again, we have 1 border collie and 2 children, a play house and climbing frame with chute, I know the land is not well drained at all throughout the estate, but want a perm solution so we can all enjoy the garden. Just wondering if anyone had advice, tips, etc
many thanks

affordmylife

ours is exactly the same. cant even go on it to peg washing on line as its like a bog out there. as for playing on the grass (kids and dog) thats not going to happen any time soon.

and we have just bought the kids a trampoline but cant put it up for easter cos the garden is too wet. i too would love a permanent solution but its been this way for the last 3 years (since the house was built).

even in july and august if we have rain we need wellies out there!!

weemissy

affordmylife wrote: »

ours is exactly the same. cant even go on it to peg washing on line as its like a bog out there. as for playing on the grass (kids and dog) thats not going to happen any time soon.

and we have just bought the kids a trampoline but cant put it up for easter cos the garden is too wet. i too would love a permanent solution but its been this way for the last 3 years (since the house was built).

even in july and august if we have rain we need wellies out there!!

Exactly! last year I resighted my whirlie gig to beside the patio area so I could hang out my washing without having to stand on the mud - sorry grass, its a nightmare if something falls off the line. A work colleague got hers done few weeks ago, very very expensive but she has a much bigger garden and says it's fantastic - all the kids have been playing five a side since then. We have to take the kids to the park to play:rotfl:

brazilianwax

We fixed ours last year, and our neighbours have done theirs this week

YOU CAN STILL HAVE REAL GRASS :j

What you do is dig channels into the lawn (one main one and then others that feed into it), and lay down gravel and drainage pipes. The water flows straight through the lawn, into the pipes and is carried away.

see here

I live in Wales - it's always wet, but the lawn is not a bog anymore!! Took us 2 weekends (and not much more than £100) to get it sorted. :beer: :beer:

weemissy

brazilianwax wrote: »

We fixed ours last year, and our neighbours have done theirs this week

YOU CAN STILL HAVE REAL GRASS :j

What you do is dig channels into the lawn (one main one and then others that feed into it), and lay down gravel and drainage pipes. The water flows straight through the lawn, into the pipes and is carried away.

see here

I live in Wales - it's always wet, but the lawn is not a bog anymore!! Took us 2 weekends (and not much more than £100) to get it sorted. :beer: :beer:

Thanks - we put drainage down when we moved in, that was many years ago right enough and only drained the part of the garden which seemed affected at the time, next door did all of their garden causing part of their garden to drain into ours:mad::mad::mad:However their garden is still quite boggy - looks better than ours but they have no children or dog churning up the grass everytime they go out. Thanks for the link brazilian

amandada

Thanks Brazilian, this is our job for the spring-after 7 years I think ours is as dry as it's ever going to get-and I'm fed up of the squelching!

annie123

In addition to brazilianwax good idea, plant some willows, they love boggy land, and will use a lot of the water in the soil.They can be coppiced for free firewood in the winter and come in many nice colours to brighten up a dull winter garden. I planted mine last weekend for awet problem area in my sons garden.

weemissy

Annie - thanks never thought of that

JWF

Don't forget that sharp sand will be very beneficial too, but will involve you moving lots of it onto your lawn (I'd try to get a half inch layer all over if possible, as long as the grass is growing vigorously it will soon grow through it). The worms will incorporate the sand into the soil and aid drainage, though you might have to repeat it many times before you get great drainage.

I am contemplating this myself as my garden is very boggy too, its just the thought of carrying all the sand up our very steep drive up into the garden that puts me off!

MrsE_2

Weeping willows are also very good for drying out boggy gardens.

I have one at the bottom of my garden, but its near the bottom so its just over 100 foot from the house. You are not susposed to plant Willows close to a house, but I don't know the distance rules.