On Wed, 26 May 2004 06:50:12 -0700, actorguy2001 wrote:

I have a problematic backyard. It's basically two inches of topsoil on
top of at least two feet of clay. It's also flat as a pancake and lower
than my neighbors' yards. Every spring it turns into a swamp. I need
three or four days of dry weather before I can even attempt to mow it,
which is not much of a problem because nothing grows there very well
except nettles.

I'm planning on getting a big load of topsoil to "dome" it, but I really
need to do something about the clay. They say the best thing to do with
clay soil is to work "organic material" into the clay. The most readily
available organic material ( that I don't produce myself! ) is mulch,
basically wood chips. I would much rather go with some kind of compost.
Where does one go to find a truck load of compost?

BTW, I live in SE Michigan, if that helps.

Thanks,
Ven Hawkins

Good day Ven. This is a tough situation to be in. Here in the pnw, we
have lots of drainage issues with all the rain that we recieve. It seems
that you have two possible problems here, your neighbors roof water and
drains are/ could be pointed at your property and the soil base is poor
with hard pan. When the rain perks through the ground and hits the hard
pan, it then starts to move down the grade. It sounds like your at the
bottom of that grade.

Imho (in my humble opinion), adding dirt/compost will not solve your
issues and could quite easily make matters worse. The new dirt could wick
up the extra water and the whole area could become very soft muck.

Suggested solutions:
If there is an area that you could possible drain the excess water to
via a french drain or a hard pipe,this would be your best option.

The second best option (imho) would be to put a dry well in the lowest/
wettest place in the lawn. A dry well is basically a hole filled rock,
topped with weed fabric,topsoil and lawn. A well that is 5x5x5 filled with
1 1/2 minus crushed rock will hold huge ammount of water. This could be
way too big of a well for you, but you get the idea. A 3x3x3 maybe
enough.. but thats just a guess. After the well fills up, the water will
slowly perk into the subsoil. If the soil is nothing but hard clay for 3
or 4 feet, then installing a dry well with a sump pump in it maybe your
only choice. Pumping the water to a ditch or sewer drain (look to see if
it legal first!!)

Hope you can fix your swamp soon.........