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We're in one unit of a triple decker, and I made the bright suggestion of tackling the drainage problem in the common backyard. Its a little 40' x 20' patch, and the neighbors' retaining walls abut the back portion, along the 40' side.
We have a swamp. In no small part b/c one neighbor built a spiffy new impermeable wall that dumps water out its side onto our yard.
Grade runs diagonally from the highest part near that new wall in one corner towards the lowest in the other corner. French drain along the 40' side seems just the ticket, terminating in a rain garden.
The problem: the "soil" is built of 1-4" topsoil and almost solid clay beneath that, and entirely saturated. I started digging the trench and the walls just collapse.
Any thoughts? I'd wait for a week of dry weather, but then the neighbors will start watering! I'd cut a temporary trench upslope to dry out my work area but I've got a foot or less to work with.
We have a swamp. In no small part b/c one neighbor built a spiffy new impermeable wall that dumps water out its side onto our yard.
Grade runs diagonally from the highest part near that new wall in one corner towards the lowest in the other corner. French drain along the 40' side seems just the ticket, terminating in a rain garden.
The problem: the "soil" is built of 1-4" topsoil and almost solid clay beneath that, and entirely saturated. I started digging the trench and the walls just collapse.
Any thoughts? I'd wait for a week of dry weather, but then the neighbors will start watering! I'd cut a temporary trench upslope to dry out my work area but I've got a foot or less to work with.