RAIN GARDENS IN CLAY? BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
Honestly, I skipped the compost-and-gravel routine and just planted a bunch of native swamp milkweed and blue flag iris right in the clay. They don’t mind wet feet, and my “rain garden” is basically a frog spa now. Sometimes you gotta work with the muck, not against it... French drains are great, but digging those in clay is like punishment.
WHEN YOUR LAWN TURNS INTO A SWAMP AFTER EVERY RAINSTORM
Digging a French drain in clay is basically my version of a gym membership—except I end up with mud in places I didn’t know existed. I’ve seen folks try to “fix” it with all sorts of fancy drainage, but sometimes the water just laughs and finds its own path anyway. Ever tried those dry creek beds or just let nature have its way? Curious if anyone’s had luck with something less backbreaking than trench warfare...
Digging a French drain in clay is basically my version of a gym membership—except I end up with mud in places I didn’t know existed.
Totally get this. I tried to dig a little trench last fall and it turned into a slip-n-slide situation real fast. I’ve seen those dry creek beds on YouTube and they look cool, but I’m not sure if they actually work or just look nice for the ‘gram. Has anyone tried just planting a bunch of water-loving plants instead? Wondering if that’s less hassle or just wishful thinking...
I’ve wondered about the water-loving plants too, but I’m not sure they’d handle the amount of standing water we get after a big storm. Plus, wouldn’t that just move the problem around if the roots can’t keep up? I keep thinking about safety—don’t want to end up with a mosquito breeding ground or slippery walkways. Dry creek beds look nice, but I worry about cost and whether they actually drain anything or just look pretty. Anyone had luck with a combo approach—some plants, some gravel, maybe a shallow trench?
Tried the combo route last year—bit of gravel, some rushes, and a shallow trench. It helped, but honestly, the trench did most of the work. Plants looked cool but didn’t drink up much after a big downpour. At least the mosquitoes didn’t throw a party.
