By Ronniewest
United Kingdom 
Our garden in holloway north london has recently become very damp and huge clumps of mushrooms and fungi have sprouted. Yet we have had very little rain. The ground is still damp days after the little rain we have had. The water seems to be coming up rather than down!!
Please can you shed any light on this?
Ronnie West
3 Nov, 2011
Answers
As Hoya has said try aerating the soil - it could have become compacted and that does affect how water drains away (or not). All you need to try is get a bag of sand and compost and a garden fork, go all over the lawn/soil with the fork, as deep as the prongs are, then throw the sand and compost over the holes - use a brush to tidy it up.
If after a few days it is still very damp then it could be a stream or the like. Has a neighbouring property done work on their garden or basement/extension? It could be that they have disrupted the drainage and it ends up in your garden - even a few properties away.
3 Nov, 2011
Could it be a broken/blocked drain? Or is it new run off have any of your neighbours had a new drive or patio?
Its usual to have some fungi in gardens I ignore mine even on the lawn as it just goes away quite quickly.
3 Nov, 2011
It would be worth checking in case you have a leaking water pipe. Is it the whole garden that's become wetter, or one area? I've found leaking pipes three times by noticing a slight "ssssssss" when the background noise is low. Try listening late at night or very early in the morning.
And (*coughs delicately*) one point - if you're getting on in years, try getting someone a few decades younger to listen too. High tone deafness is quite common as we get older - means you may not hear the slight "sssssssss"
3 Nov, 2011
Welcome to GoY. I hope you find the source and are able to sort your problem out.
3 Nov, 2011
I tried digging in my garden today and it was very wet indeed, so possibly that is all your wet patch is?
3 Nov, 2011
My garden is absolutely soaked. The rain keeps coming, but I have noticed taht even when the top soil is dry, the soil underneath keeps a hold of the moisture.
3 Nov, 2011
Just the opposite of the usual problem then - when it rains but the soil 1 inch below the surface and lower is like dust!
3 Nov, 2011
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It could be that an underground stream or spring has appeared or changed direction. If you know anyone who can dowse for water - it might be worth getting them to take a look.(in case its a burst main or other water company pipe!!) Otherwise you will just have to deal with it. Aeration of the soil, maybe raised beds if it stays wet - or grow plants that will enjoy the dampness - Rodgersias, Primulas, Astilbes etc.
3 Nov, 2011