How to Garden with Wet Soil
The key to the successful growing of any plant is the soil in which it is planted. This couldn’t be truer
when it comes wet soils. Wet soils are usually an indication of compacted soil that doesn’t allow
for drainage, meaning water cannot pass through the ground and this can lead to waterlogging.
Typically, this tends to be a major problem in back gardens where the soil is rich in clay. Wet soils
can be problematic for some plants and can cause root rot, however, choosing the correct plants
can actually improve drainage in your garden
How to Know if You Have Wet Soil
A quick way to determine the quality of drainage in your garden is to carry out a small percolation test, you can do this by following the below steps:
- Dig a square hole (1ft x 1ft x 1ft) in a couple of area’s in the garden.
- Cover the holes and let the soil dry out for a few days
- Once holes are dry, fill the up with water and see how long it take them to drain:
- If they Drain within 30 minutes, the soil is more than likely too well drained and you should consider choosing a plant which will tolerate drought throughout the summer months.
- If they drain between 30 mins to 3 hours you have ideal drainage in your garden.
- If it takes longer than 3 hours for the water to drain, the soil is poorly drained and will cause problems with certain species of plants.
How to Keep Wet Lawns Healthy
Applying a fertiliser in spring will help recover the grass and improve the root system after the winter. Water logged soil and dead patches will allow moss to thrive over the winter months so choosing a weed, feed and moss killer is advised for early spring.
Feeding again later in autumn will also help promote the grass’s roots before we enter into another winter
If your soil becomes waterlogges, spike the soil with a pitchfork, around 6 inches deep, to help improve the drainage in thw worst affected areas.
Popular Plants for Wet Soil
| Plant | Type |
| Astilbe | Perennial |
| Iris | Perennial |
| Hosta | Perennial |
| Zantedeschia | Perennial |
| Lythrum | Perennial |
| Salix Kilmarnock | Shrub (large) |
| Phyllostachys (Bamboo) | Shrub (large) |
| Kerria Jap | Shrub |
| Weigela | Shrub |
| Cornnus | Shrub |
| Acorus | Grass |
Ready to start gardening? Find everything you need here.
