Hello, I have just joined this group and I am desperate for some advice on my garden. Every time it rains my garden looks like this [see photo]

[Tango]

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome, @Tango.

Ever heard of French drains? Looks like you could use one effectively in that corner. They can be very effective.

 

[Sean Regan]

Hi and welcome.
Just from the photo, it looks as if you've the makings of a pond there!
I can't tell from the photo how much more lawn you have and how much shade there is that won't help.

It would be better if there was a way for the water to run off the lawn. The edging you have isn't helping.

Mine, has a brick paver edge, the other side of which is a shallow gully. The lawn is slightly higher in the middle, so any surface water can gravitate towards the edging to the left and towards the patio and path to the right, which is slightly lower than the lawn. Fortunately, the soil in our garden drains well.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Two basic things, raise the bit you want it drain from, and give it somewhere to drain to. A friend of mine had a house literally in the middle of a bog in Cornwall. He made a great veg garden by digging a four foot deep ditch all around it and piling the spoil into the centre to raise it above the water level. That's extreme, but the principle is good, raise it so there is run off and give it somewhere to run to.

 

[oneeye]

Looks like your soil is super compacted from compaction. It will take some work but it should be easy enough to fix. To improve soil drainage, you can add organic matter like compost or shredded leaves to your soil every year, which helps break up compaction and allows water to flow through more easily. Over the years the carbon content will increase and drainage will improve much with yearly applications of shredded leaves or compost.

For clay soils, adding a small amount of horticultural sand or perlite can help loosen the soil and improve water flow.

Create elevated planting areas with good-quality topsoil to avoid poorly draining soil below.

Use a core aerator to create holes in compacted soil, allowing better air and water penetration.

In areas with severe drainage issues, consider installing underground drainage pipes like French drains with gravel to direct water away. AI

Divert the incoming water by rerouting your rain gutters or excess runoff to another area.
I wish you the best of luck friend. Keep us posted.

 

[Meadowlark]

In areas with severe drainage issues, consider installing underground drainage pipes like French drains with gravel to direct water away.

Exactly!

We think alike...sometimes its scary