Heavy clay drainage issues

[Amateur Devon]

Dear forum members,

 

I am reaching out to the community to seek advice on how to treat the soil in my garden to enable me to plan an ornamental tree and not be concerned about excessive watering.

 

For context, my house is located in a relatively new development in East Devon. The type of soil in the area is very clayey thus waterlogging is a very common issue in the community. We've been in the house three years now, and did some work to the garden a year after we moved in. The works consisted on enlarging the patio area, installation of artificial grass and installation of raised beds all around the perimeter of the garden. We have a rather energetic dog, which doesn't mix well with muddy lawns, hence the artificial grass, which is very practical for us.

 

We did however cut a circular opening in the middle of the garden to enable future planting of a Prunus Kanzan (a cherry tree variety). To do so, we excavated a knee deep hole and mixed in compost and grit with the native clay before planting the tree last September. The tree has been following its regular cycle of dropping its leaves, blossoming and growing new foliage and branches.

 

Unfortunately, a couple of weeks ago, maybe three, we started to notice its leaves drooping. We couldn't really pinpoint the issue, but we suspected it might have been something in the soil, potentially poor drainage after reading some articles and forums online. Our suspicions were confirmed upon excavating the hole; we've put the tree back into the original pot after rinsing the roots and placing some fresh soil (not sure it will survive, but would be keen to know people's opinion of what they'd do to increase the tree's chances of survival).

 

I have read online that a way we could break up the clay is by laying some gypsum into the hole. I'm thinking this would also be necessary beyond the hole, but the artificial grass is in the way, so not sure whether it would be as simple as applying it on the grass itself and rinse it with a hose so that the gypsum dissolves and percolates through the grass and underlying compacted sand and gravel until it eventually reaches the clay?

 

What do people think about this? We'd really like to plant a tree in this location without having to take out the grass.

 

Photo descriptions:

Photo 1: detail of hole

Photo 2: recently planted tree last September

Photo 3: new foliage and flower buds

Photo 4: detail of new leaves and flowers

Photo 5: drooping leaves a few days ago

Photo 6: drooping leaves today after taking tree out of ground

Photo 7: detail of free standing water in hole. I added the water some three hours ago to measure drainage rate. Water level hasn't moved at all in this time, which clearly shows waterlogging.

 

Many thanks for any help or advice you may be able to provide. I should add that my knowledge of gardening is extremely limited!

 

.. 

 

Edited May 12 by Amateur Devon
Change photo

[Amateur Devon]

32 minutes ago, peds said:

There isn't a single thing in the whole garden except that small tree to soak up the rain. 

 

I'd recommend a similar remedy to difflock's approach, but try and keep the blast above ground. Then start again. 

Will check my home insurance before I do this! 

[Steven P]

Another consideration might be a tree that enjoys water after doing all the ground works - keeping in mind the end size of the tree, and the proximity to the house - a small willow or something?

 

 

 

I don't suppose the developers put in any drainage for the garden did they - somewhere to join any you add into

[Amateur Devon]

3 hours ago, Steven P said:

Another consideration might be a tree that enjoys water after doing all the ground works - keeping in mind the end size of the tree, and the proximity to the house - a small willow or something?

 

 

 

I don't suppose the developers put in any drainage for the garden did they - somewhere to join any you add into

That's something we're considering. We've got a small family apple tree planted on the perimeter of the garden which is doing just fine. Feels like a cherry tree is not the best thing to plant...

 

I'm afraid developers only do the bare minimum, so no drainage whatsoever. Our garden backs onto an area with vegetation and a small brook running at a lower level. The ideal thing would be to drain into this area.

[daveatdave]

think you might have created a sump hole