how can I add some drainage to my flower beds?

Question

My plants roots are drowning and rotting away because I have clay soil further down below the flower beds, i dug out about 15cms of the soil, removed the clay lumps and mixed the soil with compost through a garden seive to remove rocks.

In heavy rain (which we seem to be palgued with recently) it fills with water and has killed off a lot of my plants.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Answer 1

You should not have removed the stones. Dig in loads of coarse grit to help with the drainage.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I had clay soil and it is horrible to work with, it limits the type of plants you can use. You are abviously very close to the water table also which is not good. I know someone who spent a fortune on underground drainage, which never worked. Rather than dig in further, I would lay gravel over your existing bed and raise your flower bed using borders to retain the compost and sand mix. Clay soil is a losing battle for gardeners, wet or dry.

Answer 4

Purchase some sand and mix it in with your clay soil.
Also if you have a cement border or a solid border that is around this flower bed you will need to drill in drainage holes throught it or remove it to let this water drain out on the lawn.

You can also add soil and build up higher above water level of course you will need raised border to allow the dirt to remain and not wash away.

Answer 5

Simple- raise your flower beds. make it so the beds are higher than your grade level for the existing bed. You can raise beds by adding more soil, organic materials (compost, bark, potting soil), and coarse sand. Once the bed is raised, if water is a problem at the bottom of the bed, the roots near the surface (where most of them are) will still be drained.

Answer 6

Fill the bottom with abouth three inches of gravel then place the soil on top - this allows standing water to be taken from the soil and not drown your plants. Wood chip is a good alternative but has to be re-done every couple of years.

Answer 7

Insect & Disease Management in Annual Flower Beds from Cooperative Extension Service
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Answer 8

You could dig in some sand or grit. This would help break the clay down.

Answer 9

I had the same problemand used sharp-sand. Just fork it in really well and I promise you will see the difference next time it rains.

Answer 10

shouldn't have removed the stones and rocks, that was the drainage.
I made same mistake with my first garden and it took me bloody ages too