Issue 23The Last Word

THE LAST WORD
Soggy Soil – Not All is Lost!Waterlogging is most likely on clay or silty soils after heavy or sustained rain due to the dense structure of the soil. Too much water is often worse than too little for plants. If water is unable to drain away, plant roots effectively drown because they need air as well as water - remember the micro carrots episode?
I garden on a heavy clay soil so have learned some lessons the hard way: the key is to embrace your soggy soil and work with, not against it.
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Right Plant, Right PlaceIf your whole garden has soggy soil, the best option is to choose plants which will relish the moisture, rather than trying to change the soil to suit the plants. I have one particularly soggy corner, in which all the first plantings I made many years ago drowned - I thought I could ‘out-plant’ the moisture. It turns out this corner stayed wet even in the height of summer.
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Despite what many believe, there is a huge range of plants which will thrive in this type of soil including roses, shrubs like hydrangea, viburnum, cornus, and perennials like Japanese anemone, brunnera, and pulmonaria.
The positive thing about heavy soil is that it is rich in nutrients as these vital ingredients are not washed away.
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If the area is damp all year round, make the most of it by planting marginal aquatics such as yellow flag Iris, Iris pseudacorus, or the giant cowslip, Primula florindae. These plants naturally thrive in damp meadows or beside streams and ponds. Candelabra primulas, hostas, and ferns all thrive in bog garden conditions so naturally they love my super soggy corner.
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Bluebells, summer snowflakes (Leucojum), dog’s tooth violets (Erythronium) snowdrops, camassias, and Fritillaria meleagris are all at home in damper soils as long as the bulbs do not get too wet or waterlogged.
Ways to Deal with Heavy Soil

Small areas of water logging or puddling can occur on compacted soil, particularly on well-used lawns. These can be rectified by forking holes in the lawn to aerate the soil. If the puddling is in a border, dig in some organic matter like home-made compost or well-rotted manure or add coarse grit to open up the soil structure and help drainage.

Using a no-dig method on heavy soils can prevent further compaction of soil. Cover the surface where you will be planting with a layer of wet cardboard, and a 10cm (4in) thick layer of compost.

Make planting holes square rather than round to encourage roots to spread outwards rather than spiralling round. Planting holes can become water traps as heavy soil sticks together. Try to dig with a fork rather than a spade and make some deep holes at the base of the planting hole with the fork or a metal rod.

Shape low mounds in which to plant if your soil is likely to become waterlogged over winter. Make the mounds at least double the width of the plant roots and 15-30cm (6-12in) in height. If you are planting hedging, plant it in a continuous mound.

Create raised beds for herbs, vegetables, and soft fruits to improve drainage.

If surplus water or flooding is really bad in your garden, think about installing drainage systems below ground, as I have done, with land drains leading to a soakaway pit. Alternatively, channel drains to a rain garden lined with stones and moisture-loving plants.

If we make the right planting and soil care choices, soggy soil in Scottish gardens can host an abundance of fabulous plants.
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