Boggy Border? 3 Tips for For Heavy Wet Soils

Ok, so I won’t pretend that this one is easy….. Heavy clay soils are backbreaking to garden and even heavier when wet and they can hold water for months, only to make an impenetrable cracked surface when they finally dry out.

The solutions will depend on your site and requirements, often a garden on clay soil can have areas which drain better than others. In one of my gardens, I have a spring that bubbles up when the water table is very high, and previously areas of stagnant standing water, yet I also have wonderful free draining organic matter rich borders too.

I have stabilised areas with the poorest drainage by planting willow to drink up some water. Sometimes raised beds can help. Other areas have had lots of compost added and been planted with appropriate plants. An overall site survey done at seasonal intervals over the course of a year is ideal to ensure landscaping and planting to best effect.

However if you have an established garden with a problem area I would recommend the following three pronged attack…..

1, Mulch - As generously as is practical. Once the soil is weeded, mulch the soil with organic matter and avoid digging and bringing the worst of the clay to the surface. Continue to add mulch annually when the soil is damp but not when it’s waterlogged or already dried out.

2, Protect from compaction - Within borders, work on boards or planks to avoid compacting the soil, lay hard paths for main routes.

3, Use the right plants – Gunnera, Astrantia, Primula, Cirsium rivulare, Calla, Astilbe, Houtunia, Carex pendula, Caltha palustris, Darmera peltata, Eupatorium, Iris, Ligularia, Rodgersia, Trollius and Zantedeschia, Cornus, Willow etc. Some of these plants are very vigorous – so choose carefully. Another tip - Its always worth checking out neighbouring gardens to see what works on similar soils.

If you're not sure which plants would work well in your garden, please do get in touch [email protected]

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