"Me-G" wrote in message
...

My garden has seen a lot of trampling by tradesmen over the past few
years. Retaining walls were destroyed, weeds, especially docks
flourished and, it seems, all draining material was washed away. The
garden is like a solid mass of clay.

Those responsible have agreed to "sort" the problem. They did dig it ov
er but the first heavy rain flattened it leaving puddles which didn't
drain for ages but did wash teh earth onto my paths: yewk: constant
cleaning and, as clay sticky so perpetually dragged through house.

They said they'd sort the drainage problem by digging in course sand.
However, I read somewhere that this would only serve to turn the clay to
a cement. It suggested that loam would also need to be incorporated
with the sand.

Can anyone advise on this?

The other matter is that they say they can't do that work just now as
it's a job for the Spring. Problem I see is that I will want it ready
for planting in Spring and given the lack of speed with which they work,
they could well call Summer, Spring. How early, ground being
sufficiently soft for digging of course, can I stipulate as a last date
for fixing.

I would have thought we'd want the last frosts to help break up the
earth to further help with drainage.

(Not really confident about using capitals at season names: dyslexia
rules KO!.)

All help on these matters gratefully received and much appreciated.

--
Me-G


My soil is heavy clay, too. I find the best remedies are masses of sharp
grit and composted bark. I avoid working the soil in winter or when it's
very wet, and avoid treading on it as much as possible at any time. For
plantings that require lighter soil and free-draining conditions, I tend to
use raised beds. Adding compost/soil conditioners are extremely good for
the soil, but they will disappear in the blinking of an eye. You will never
stop adding them.

I use a fork when breaking up the soil because I feel there is less strain
on my back. I tend to use my spade when I need to *move* soil, rather than
just turn and aerate it.

If your tradesmen were builders, they will probably have heaps of builders
sand and may want to use it. It is far too fine and soft to alleviate your
heavy and sticky clay soil. Sharp sand or, better still, sharp grit (not
smoother gravel) will, in quantity, open up the claggy texture of your soil
much better. Because sand and grit will not add nutrients, you will also
need to add lots of manure (if you can get it) and bulky compost.


--
Spider
from high ground in SE London,
gardening on clay.