I have 1 foot soil, then clay. Garden takes ages to drain. Would making a mini-orchard in my garden take up more moisture?
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If you want to stop the garden being water-logged then perhaps you need a french-drain system to take it away.
This involves digging a long narrow trench (or several) about 12-15 inch deep, fill with gravel or combination of gravel and a drainage duct (ducting with re-cut slots), then put soil back on top.
The system needs to drain somewhere, so should preferably be on a slope, but will help to drain the garden even if horizontal, by helping water get through the clay, and as temporary storage for the water, to drain away slowly.
Trees do take up and evaporate a lot of water but they also add shade which is not good for most gardens. Their roots also tend to invade the beds and take up nutrients as well.
Have you considered a dry well or sump with a small submersible pump? If there is no way to cut a small drainage ditch that is what I would consider.
You could consider a bog garden.
Here’s how to make one.
http://www.pondlady.com/Articles/bog_garden.html
build raised beds. problem solved.