I'm dealing with really compacted clay soil in a new build property where we laid turf a couple of years back. Initially, everything looked great, but now the ground is just too compacted with tufts of grass and solid mud. Rainwater just sits on top due to poor drainage. We're planning to extend our patio a bit and put in some borders, which means the lawn area is going to be around 3m wide by 4-5m long. I'm looking for any advice on how to deal with this situation. We're thinking about digging down a foot, laying down some stones for drainage, and then putting back in well-draining soil before re-turfing. Has anyone tried this? Is it a solid long-term solution?
1 Answer
I used to live in a place with heavy clay soil, and what worked best for me was laying the grass over a layer of sand. It really improved the drainage. Plus, if you relayed the lawn, consider gently sloping it towards your flower beds so that rainwater can run off more easily.
Good tip! Did you ever have issues with sand getting tracked into your home? We tried using sand in some holes we dug to improve drainage, but it kept sticking to our dog's paws and coming inside!