improving drainage of clay soil-top dress with sand?

I removed a very old concrete path running the length of our garden. Farmer took rubble for his gateway and gifted us with 'top soil'. Turns out it's very clay rich so the strip of (now) turf is extra sopping wet-much more than lawn either side. Admittedly I didn't fluff up the soil beneath the path much before adding the top soil, just to get final levels easily. It was of course very compacted which should improve with time?

So, could I add sand from above and expect the wet strip to become better draining?

Or.....?

T.I.A.

Magic.

The topsoil likely isn't your problem even if it is a bit clayey but as you say, the old area underneath the path will probably be well-nigh impenetrable. Compacted ground never gets better with time, only worse. Putting sand on top won't do anything. Really you need to break up the subsoil where the path used to be. Best course of action is to wait until Spring then lift the lot and dig over the old path.

Somerset eh? Commiserations. Maybe it'll be better when it stops raining?

robertw63 said:

Best course of action is to wait until Spring then lift the lot and dig over the old path.

Somerset eh? Commiserations. Maybe it'll be better when it stops raining?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Was hoping some worms might come the to rescue given that they might have been avoiding previously dry area under path....
Will give your suggestions a try if my spade has not floated away...

Compaction is the enemy of worms. Deal with the compaction and the worms will return, although probably not until the need for waterwings is past. Hope you avoid the worst of the wet stuff. It's heart-breaking to watch.

Adding lime helps, it reacts with the clay as a floculant causing the clay particles to bond and become crumbly in texture.
Adding organic material will encourage worms and help to prevent future compaction.
Rotovate the soil to a good depth and do both if you want a long term solution.