Waterlogged garden advice

[WhatKatyDidToday]

Our garden is completely waterlogged. Since moving here 5 years ago, we have put in a French draining system ourselves, but it has made very little difference. Even now after little rain and lots of sun, our grass is sodden and we have 3 young children, we can't let the children on it very often as they just get so wet and muddy. We have a trampoline and a TP climbing frame thing but we are just gutted as we want the children to be outside as much as possible and we just can't let them. Any ideas what we can do to help improve drainage? I really don't want to gravel it all- my little boy loves football

Really, has no one got any advice!?

Do you live in my neighbourhood? Everyone has this problem where we are. The nursery has changed theirs to astroturf. The local b&q sells it too. We still have our lawn and DD just can't play on it after it rained. Most of our neighours either have wet lawn, gravel or decking. There's no solution I'm afraid other than astroturf if you have children.

Thank you for your response! I think even AstroTurf would be waterlogged as there seems to be no drainage whatsoever - aaaargh it's just so frustrating- you don't test the grass when you buy a house do you... I will next time! This should have been our forever home, but the garden means it can't be

Oh no OP that sounds rubbish.

Do the neighbours have the same problem or is it local to your garden? What's a French drainage system? The only thing I can think of is to get professional landscapers in and ask for their advice.

Sorry not to be more help.

Have you thought about putting a soakaway in under the lawn.

As long as your soil is not heavy clay it will improve drainage.

whatkatydidtoday, the nursery still gets a wet 'lawn' with the astroturf. But from what I see, the children can still play on it since it's not muddy. And it dries a lot quicker than our muddy lawn. However, I do think it will look a bit weird in a real house. But just probably I don't see it often. It'll be ok I guess if you have a big lawn, and just turn a small part of it into a children play area. But we only have a tiny lawn.

cantspel our soil is heavy clay. I think that's why nothing works and everyone just have wet muddy lawns around my neighbourhood. katy might have better soil though.

Sorry for another post. Actually my DD doesn't mind the muddy lawn. (We have a lot of parks in our neighbourhood and they are all muddy. DD will walk in them happily). It's more us doesn't want our lawn destroyed by her walking on it. I can see why the children is happy to play on the wet astroturf in the nursery with wellies on. Remember peppa and her muddy puddles?

Yes, it's clay my youngest daughter is only just walking and still crawls a lot of the time, so we have to change her clothes every time she goes out. It just means I'm reluctant to let her go out too much. I'm thinking maybe we will have to get someone in, but that sounds very expensive

Keen to hear of any solutions. We also have a very waterlogged corner of our garden which sadly is the place where we have the playhouse and swing set so it gets very over-used and muddy.

I don't mind the mud really, the DC certainly don't, but it's not so nice in the spring/summer when everyone else has nice lawns.

When it's particularly bad the DDs put waterproof trousers and wellies on. I'm not a fuss about little girls keeping clean by any means, but it's better than repeated washing and they're not in soggy clothes when they're out there.

Is the lawn small enough to dig up and treat to break down the clay a bit?
Dig trenches and dig in lots of organic matter (good use for old newspapers) and grit. This will only really be feasible on a small area.

If the lawn area is large you could take some out and put in raised beds and for the play area remove the lawn and lay a membrane and bark.