improving drainage info please!

I read all about improving drainage etc and when I first moved into my house put a ton of sand and gravel into the border but that was many moons ago. Obviously being on clay its quite bad at the moment-sqelchy, areas where water is collecting at edges of border etc b but not as bad as some as it does eventually dry out. Its all very well all these gardening programmes suggesting digging in sand, grit, manure etc but what can you do when there is a framework of plany=ts already there? When I am planting bulbs, small plants etc sometimes I am digging in between other plants and its difficult to get to but is it worth doing something to small areas like this when I am planting- say tip in asome grit etc to try and give them as much help as possible in the early years?

 

A bit trcky, LG - I'd be inclined to mulch the area and let the worms help you increase the drainage by dragging it down, as they do..... Bark is handy for that, or stuff from your compost bins, fairly coarse would do fine.... or if you like the cocoa-shell stuff, you could try that.

 

You say you moved in to the house - was ita new build house? If it is I am wondering whether the subsoil is still compacted from the builders.

 

I wonder whether this site could be of any help...


http://www.doityourself.com/scat/guttersanddrainage