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Post by Sallyann Rose on May 28, 2008 19:53:56 GMT
I have a fairly large area of my garden which is now a series of large puddles. I was thinking of digging channels to drain the water. Do you think this is a good idea and could anyone advice me which plants like alot of water.
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si
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by si on May 29, 2008 12:07:55 GMT
Channels will only work if you have somewhere to drain the water to (and that somewhere isn't your house ;-) ). Also, if the garden is at all steep then don't make the channels run straight down hill other wise you might suffer erosion if it rains heavily again.
An alternative would be to dig some deep holes and throw some reasonably sized stones in before refilling - these will allow the water to drain down into the sub soil faster but won't work if the water table is near the surface.
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Post by grannyannie on May 30, 2008 20:15:17 GMT
You could try digging in a bag or two of sharp sand, and a bag of grit (B&Q!), to improve the drainage. You could also try planting a tree that likes to be by water, e.g. a weeping willow. Lots of woody shrubs will drink any spare water, too. Our firethorns are always the last to suffer in a drought. Small plants that don't mind damp conditions: pulmonarias, hellebores, ferns - though the drainage has got to be good. Otherwise, you might have to use marginal pond plants e.g. flag irises.
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Post by Sallyann Rose on Jun 17, 2008 19:14:11 GMT
Thank you. I am digging a channel that runs in and out of 4 big conifers. I couldn't dig big holes I found the clay to hard
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Post by madasahatter on Jul 5, 2008 10:23:58 GMT
Where are you in the country? If you are in the "deep south" you could try growing rice! Or how about something a bit more british, like watercress. Celery and beans also like lots of water and can be grown on "islands" (mounds of soil) with water moats!
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