How can i improve my lawn?

It's been raining the last 5 days and the lawn is like a swimming pool. It has very poor drainage because of the clay soil, the only part of the lawn that isn't a problem is at the base of a couple of trees! I'm guessing that over time, as the leaves fall and break down and the worms compost them, the soil is improved! Anyway i thinly raked leaves over the lawn today in the hope that over winter it will slowly start to break down the clay structure. Is this feasible or am i barking up the wrong tree?

 

You will have to wait years for that to happen John! The best way to put your water issues right is to put drainage in, but that's expensive and means digging up your garden. For now you could try aerating your lawn by opening it up with a garden fork or hollow tine tool and then brushing sand into the holes. Because clay is so dense the sand will help to keep the soil open and help drainage.

 

Thanks Sheal, that's a good idea, i'll try that