bad drainage in garden that gradually slopes, clay soil that is solid clay if left un-touched.?

Question

When it rains hard and constantly(as it does up in the northwest)
I have a garden that you cannot walk on. You can skid, slide good fun if you like that sort of thing! as the garage runs most of the length of the grass it stops the natural flow of the water. At the back of the garage there is a paved area. Since I bought my house 2 years ago i have tried most things and wondered what was making it so wet. None of the neighbours have this problem. Now I have lifted a paving stone up at the back of the garage and have found concrete a good 4" thick, apparently you put a dry mix down first so the paving remain even. I think this is stopping the water from flowing anywhere. But... My other half just shrugs his shoulders and says "i'm a chef what do I know?"
Anybody had the same problem and resolved it without moving or trading the chef for a gardener? Actually that sounds the best option. But I will try other advice to. thanks

Answer 1

a load of sand mixed into the clay with a rototiller should loosen the soil and let it drain, and will make the soil more usable also.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what you are looking for here. Areation and gypsum will loosten the clay and regrading will redirect the water. Retaining walls and good topsoil may be an option. Proper plant selection is important.

Answer 3

can you sub soil it? you know large tractor with a deep plow reaches down 20 or more inches, have them go both ways or haul good top soil in . Or mulch all your grass and leaves and add to garden once a year raised garden is what most gardens are now

Answer 4

try "drain tile". its perferated tube that we use to drain places at my golf course. look up a turf company or a home depot or sumthin and they can point you in the rite direction of where/what/and how to go about it. its fairly cheap(plastic tube), easy to work with, and all you have to do is bury it. hope that helps