BC> Replying to a message of WL Sakowski to Brad Crockett:
 BC> Hi - thanks for the post!
You're welcome, Brad.
 WS>> I would have to disagree with taking out the shrubs...
 BC> Right - the shrubs will stay.
 WS>> Why not dig a trench (say, 12-14" deep,)  along the lawn-side
 WS>> of the shrub area
 BC> I guess it's actually the whole bed that the shrubs are
 BC> in.  It's raised up quite a bit, and surrounded by lawn
 BC> edging.  I think that water may be collecting at the
 BC> lawn edging.
That's okay.  A french drain will help eliminate any standing water
situation, as it will drain into the pipe... actually, a *real* french
drain is filled with broken tile/rock debris and allows water to drain
into it, until the ground can accept the water (the drainage pipe is a
modern addition.
***info about the "trench", deleted in the interest of band width***
 BC> I like that idea.
It works!   :)
 WS>> You would want to run the two ends out to areas that
 WS>> would offer you the most chance of accepting the
 WS>> excess run- off, or perhaps utilize a dry-well at each
 WS>> end.
 BC> I dpn't really know where the ends of the tubing could
 BC> go, since the street pavement is right at the level of
 BC> the lawn.  What's a dry-well?
One guy I know boared holes through the curbing, so that his
would drain right into the street drainage.  I don't know it that
would be feasible for you.  But, a dry-well is a hole, filled with
rocks... like a pier hole.  It also allows as a storage place for
your run-off, until it can be absorbed by the surrounding ground.
It is important to remember that you don't really want to make it
difficult for your ground to be watered, as all that is not supplied
by God's rain, must be supplied by *your* watering system... and
He doesn't send a bill for His supply   :)
 BC> ...core-aerate each spring.  (Just had that done one week
 BC> ago...)
This should prove helpful.
 WS>> ...adding some "Sof'n'soil" (trade name for *gypsum*)
 BC> What do you mean by 'contouring'.  Does that mean
 BC> ripping everything out and starting over?  (We have an
 BC> irrigation system installed.)  And why would you want
 BC> to add gypsum to the soil?
Contouring would be just adding enough slope to it that the water
would drain instead of standing.  It doesn't mean ripping anything
out, but rather adding *to* what is already there.  You may be able
to do nothing more than add something called a 'burm', (like a little
*hill*) that you might plant some decorative stuff in... several trees,
adding seasonal color or the like.  If you wanted to keep your lawn
open, it would mean adding enough fill dirt to make a little 'rise', so
that the land weren't so *flat*!  Your local nursery may had a service
that would be willing to help you with this problem.  We used to
provide just such service *free*.  The only thing we asked was that
you be kind enough to buy your supplies for the solution from our
nursery... not alot to ask, I don't think.
As for adding gypsum, it is an addition to the soil that enables the
soil to drain and breathe, in that it helps to break up tight clay soils.
It serves other purposes, but this was the original use for it and over
time it showed itself to have other advantages.  I am not aware of
any draw-backs to its use.  It is a good soil conditioner for clay, as is
sand.  Sand goes to work faster, but gypsum stays longer   :)
To address the grass being able to grow up through whatever is done
on the top of your lawn; it is dependent on what kind of grass you have.
Some grasses can grow through concrete!   :)  Those will go ahead and
grow through...  I've seen burmuda grow upwards of 18" and more!
Others may need re-seeding (or re-sodding... whatever).  Should you
need to re-sod,  I would strip what is there, going down about 3-4" to get
roots, and re-use what I already have.  (Yes, this would be the 'worse
case' scenario!)
 WS>> Are you in a heavy-clay area?
 BC> I don't really know, but when they put the lawn in the
 BC> put down a bed of sand first.
Perhaps it would've been more helpful if I had asked *where*...   :)
But it sounds as tho your soil-base is possibly clay.  If you are
referring to them laying sod, it isn't uncommon for a base of sand to
go in, as this provides an easy, gently base for roots to make into.
So, this isn't a certainty.
This isn't 'brain surgery, so don't try to make it more difficult than
is necessary.  There is a way, so be encouraged.
cheers,
WL Sakowski
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Does anyone know how to get rid of black birds without doing harm to other 
bird species.  The black birds around here are awful. And there are hundreds 
of them.  They take the seed I put out for the other birds and also scare 
away the other birds.  I really hate these pests.  Any help would be greatly 
appreciated.
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