Feel like flagging the lot

Hello, my garden is driving me crazy as it is waterlogged already. It is very rarely dry and am fed up of having muddy dog and kids running through the house. I have looked into land drains but due to the heavy clay have read that it's not always the best solution.

So thought I would try and improve the soil with mushroom compost and horticultural grit first. How much soil to compost to grit would you suggest and as it is a lawn which I would like to try and save how would you suggest getting it in the ground without completely ruining the lawn. I thought about lifting a spade depth of earth and under filling with compost grit soil mix then replacing the top bit of removed turf.

Our garden is lower than the four neighbouring houses due to being on a bit of a hill and so it is rarely totally dry.

I'm prepared for hard work but just need to make sure it's not in vain.

 

I have gardened on heavy clay for years. The key with lawns and mud is to build up the organic matter in the soil and one way of doing this is by not gathering up the mowings. Mow fairly often but keep the grass on the long side; in other words don't mow very short. It's too late for this year but for next year keep it long and let the worms do the work with the mowings. Grit will of course help. What I once did in a particularly clayey part of our garden was to spike it all over with a fork and then brush sharp sand into the holes. This did help but it's best done in spring when the grass is actively growing. Stepping stones in the heavy traffic areas also help.

As far as being at the bottom of the slope goes; is there anywhere for the water to go if you were to put in some land drains? Are you in a hollow or just a slope? Could you make a pond to take the water from the land drains? Perhaps post a picture.

 

If you do that, the chances of getting it even are somewhere around exactly zero.

You could build it up slowly, top dressing with sharp sand, but it will take years. Personally I'd dig it all over, mix in tonnes of sand and mushroom compost, level it off, then reseed.

 

I think I`d raise the lawn,build a deck for the kids to play on and mound plant any plants that arent water lovers.
The neighbors water will still run into your garden but putting in a surface drain (eg ditch filled with sharp gravel)will enable you to drain it out of your garden or into a drain.?