The trees are at the other side of a small stream (mostly dry but it runs after rain), and that small distinction is really important.
I have water coming in deep down in my garden, earlier this year we dug down about 7 feet and found water puddling in at that depth in. My garden then falls down to the stream, so the water would appear at the surface before it reaches the stream. I live in the shadow of a hill (behind the camera) and I think we're getting run off water from there due to very old drainage systems that is permeating into my ground a long way down. This water then soaks down through my garden and runs into that stream.
So, unfortunately, the ground would be totally different where those trees are growing.
I had intended piping and filling right down, but I just thought it would be too much work and expense (to dig down 7 feet as my garden is around 100 yards long) and not be certain that my problem would be fixed.
So I think I'm in the unenviable position of having heavy clay soil which holds rain water, but I also have water soaking in from below. So I decided not to attempt to fix it, but instead use it as best I can.
So this summer we dug a small pond (by hand as a digger would have destroyed the place due to the very soft soil), used no liner, but the water remained all summer!
I'm letting the really soft parts go wild with suitable wildflower and where I have higher ground (which is to the right of the first picture) I am just trying to work with plants that are suitable for my conditions.
So that's pretty much the full story of my tricky garden!
Thanks for reply - all is now clear! In that situation you ae quite right to work with your conditions, not try to fight it but I don't envy you. We're somewhat luckier, as we're actually at the bottom of a slope with high hills all round (it's not called Six Springs for nothing!) and the groundwater does seem to drain through to a small stream at the bottom of the valley. We do have a couple of boggy bits sometimes where a natural spring breaks though so I've planted Cornus "Winter Fire" there which grows quite well.
I have Cornus Winter Fire also in the soft (but not real boggy) bit. You can see it towards the left of the first picture, just below the brown leaves and to the left of the alder that was planted earlier this year. It was just planted a couple of years ago so isn't really big yet, but the stems and leaves are a lovely colour just now.
We're still waiting for our cornus to colour up, I bet yours look good. We went to the Hiilier Gardens earlier this year and they had a lovely stand of mixed Cornus, the red stemmed ones by the yellow stemmed ones - absolutely stunning.
This isn't a problem to be solved per se, more just a rambling by me!
My garden is bordered by a substantial planting of mature trees. Although this makes for a lovely backdrop I am absolutely tortured with leaves in the autumn time. This, combined with the fact that my garden is a very heavy (and wet) clay meant that I never bothered much about gardening before this year. I thought it was just too difficult to do anything with it.
Anyway, I made an effort this year and began planting shrubs and perennials from around May with the result that the garden is beginning to take shape, but I really look forward to seeing what it's like in a year or two's time.
Anyway, here is the backdrop of just some of the large trees:
You can see a few small trees and other bits and pieces that I have planted this year in the foreground.
The area closest to the trees is the very wet clay soil, and walking on it results in large deep footprints, so that's almost impossible to work with. Those trees are on the eastern side of the garden and so ensure that that portion of the garden is in shade for most of the day (especially at this time of the year). I've planted wet ground wildflower seeds towards the end of August, so I'll see what happens there.
You can see that all the leaves still look to be on the trees, however, here are the leaves that have been cleared up so far this autumn:
Just wondering if leaves are as big a problem for many others? Obviously not clearing the leaves will kill the lawn, so hours and hours are spent over the autumn / winter clearing them.
On the bright side I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of leafmold I can make (as this is the first year I've collected the leaves like this.
I used to jump in ours, then I got a wooden pallet to lay on top and weigh it down. Much more dignified, but less fun. It can be a bit of a chore, when you have a lot to clear. I like doing it but when a day later it looks no different sometimes feel a bit deflated when you left it tidy just the day before. Other half bought me the biggest widest plastic rake available (I think) and it does help clear a wide swathe at a time.
I like your leaf bin could you please say what it is or where you got it. I need a new one and it has to look a bit tidy.
I know I'm weird, but I love clearing leaves. I've got over 50 dumpy sacks on the go now and emptied out another 7 of last year's compost so I can start filling those too. I love every minute of it ; almost as much as when I start emptying it out next year to mulch the rest of the garden.
So sorry the pictures came out huge. Had this wooden bin for ten years or so, it did well and finally got too rotten. That used to get filled to the top, like how yours looks now, over and over in autumn months. So will yours.
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It can be a bit of a chore, when you have a lot to clear. I like doing it but when a day later it looks no different sometimes feel a bit deflated when you left it tidy just the day before. Other half bought me the biggest widest plastic rake available (I think) and it does help clear a wide swathe at a time.
I like your leaf bin could you please say what it is or where you got it.
I need a new one and it has to look a bit tidy.
I love every minute of it ; almost as much as when I start emptying it out next year to mulch the rest of the garden.