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Trodden in the mud

UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
in Plants
Just had some railings put in at the front of house yeserday but unfortunately the guys doing it trod all over the plants, mainly Karl Foerster grasses and sanguisorba which were just surviving the constant rain, cold and waterlogged ground.  I thought the railings would give them more sun as opposed to the old fence. Seems I might have killed them off instead. Is there any hope  

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited April 2023
    I wouldn’t worry about that … it doesn’t look too bad to me … when the weather warms up they’ll spring into new life and look fine and dandy. If you want the bed to look a bit tidier I’d mulch it with some compost. 

    Show us some new photos in early June 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited April 2023
    It's odd if you have very waterlogged ground next to a wall. Is it clay and did you improve it first? Does it dry out in summer?
    The Calamagrostis  certainly won't like that ,if it is that one. There are a few with a K. Foerster variety. They need some moisture, but good drainage all year round.
    Sanguisorba is more tolerant of differing conditions.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Unionworkeruk Looking at your photo I think they will be fine.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    Fairygirl said:
    It's odd if you have very waterlogged ground next to a wall. Is it clay and did you improve it first? Does it dry out in summer?
    The Calamagrostis  certainly won't like that ,if it is that one. There are a few with a K. Foerster variety. They need some moisture, but good drainage all year round.
    Sanguisorba is more tolerant of differing conditions.

    The wall was only recently put up and my front was concreted over until a couple of years ago when I took it all up and layers of clay and then put down loads of topsoil. Plants closer to the wall of the house have always grown well but closer to the fence which never got much sun not so good but Foerster grasses did reach 1.5m.  Is only been waterlogged this winter with constant rain and no sun near the fence.
    which blocks it. Thats what I was hoping to solve with the railings.
     
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Not unexpected from the typical British semi-skilled working man.  They need constant supervision.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In that case, just keep adding some organic matter now and again , which will keep helping the general structure of the soil. That's what we have to do here as wet clay soil is the norm.  :)
    If they've managed up until now though, they should be fine.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    bédé said:
    Not unexpected from the typical British semi-skilled working man.  They need constant supervision.

    Is this meant to be patronising or just ignorant  ?
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Railings are very heavy and no doubt awkward especially when trying to tip-toe around plants. The workmen had to put their feet somewhere. Sorry about you're plants, these things happen. 
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    You can't really expect people to completely avoid stepping on plants when putting up a fence, and those don't look too bad to me. It's early enough in the year for them to grow away and recover completely. Any really squashed/broken stems can be removed. I would gently loosen up the soil between plants with a fork to make sure it hasn't become compacted. Then you can add mulch if you like.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    Jenny_Aster said:
    Railings are very heavy and no doubt awkward especially when trying to tip-toe around plants. The workmen had to put their feet somewhere. Sorry about you're plants, these things happen. 
    I was not complaining  I do the same myself when working.  I just wanted advice on how to help them,the plants, survive as I am now going to repair the foundations of the wall  beween the houses and will no doubt tread on some more.

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