Clay Soil - best way to improve drainage

[dormermike]

Hi

Alongside my house is a little patch of garden (2-3m by 3m or so) which has a pavement running alongside it.

Investigating another issue (internal damp) I have found that the clay content here is very high and as I dig down some test holes (approx 60cm or so I estimate) the ground is damp but having left the holes they do not fill up with water. However I put 4L or so of water into one of the holes at lunchtime today and 3.5hrs later there is still quite a bit in the bottom!

Most of what i dug out appeared to be wet clay, rather than earth or soil.

Assuming the area is like this, is there something I can do to help with general drainage? Eventually I would like to use the area to grow veggies etc (not sure what).

Thanks
Mike

 

[wrathkeg]

large amounts of leafmould have helped my vegetable garden, which was originally heavy clay.

If you think something more dramatic might be required, this would be worth look

http://www.pavingexpert.com/drainage.htm

 

[dormermike]

Thanks - will look into that

The 4L I put into the hole was still present (slightly) 8 hours later. That seems pretty poor to me but it may be normal for all I know.

Going to drive a spike into the bottom of the hole to see how far the clay goes.

Thanks

 

[danhawkins88]

Hi a customer of mine had a similar issue and i advised using Soakaway Boxes and toach wood it has helped a little bit because they store the water whilst it is soaking away.