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Muddy corner

KathmKathm Posts: 26
in Problem solving

Hi all. 





Looking for a bit of advice on how to progress with fixing my ‘muddy corner’. 

I live it central Scotland, so it is generally wet - tho this winter actually hasn’t been too bad.   I also live on a hill, next to a gorge.  The garden is south west facing and gets sun most of the day. 

The ‘shadiest’ area is this corner.  And it gets a lot of run off from my neighbours garden, which is just grass.   Generally, the border next to the gorge is well draining - so it actually goes from very very muddy to fairly dry at the gorge edge. 

For several years, I grew conifers which meant the area was fine - but since I cut them down (they got huge), it’s turning back into a sticky mess.   It didn’t helped when I rotovated it all into a clay soup.  Oops.   At that point I dug in about 5 x 50 litre bags of manure in the hope it would help. 

Things are a bit better than last year, but I have cleared the plants (astillbe/ferns/hostas/vinca) out again and am going to add more well rotted manure.

My main query is……Would I be better, putting a thick layer of manure deeper down or will spreading on top and forking thru be better?

Is it possible that I could put in too much compost and make the soil too rich for plants? Should I be adding in some general compost to the mix?
Also, any better plant recommendations?

Sorry this is a bit long.  

Many thanks

Kath
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Posts

  • KathmKathm Posts: 26
    Sorry, meant…… too much manure and make the soil too rich.  
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    If it’s that wet I’d stop with the manure and put some topsoil or dry ish compost in . As for plants ,you really need something that likes moist soil if it tends that way .Plant choosing is really up to the individual. Just Google plants that like moist conditions and take your pick from the pictures and plants described there . That is my advice .
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Put a wildlife pond in! Perfect!
    Fargesia would be ok there in the sun, as long as it stays nice and damp there in summer.
    Some ferns will tolerate a lot of sun, foxgloves would be fine..
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Hydrangea paniculata varieties will enjoy those conditions. There’s more plants listed here:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-mulches/gardening-on-wet-soils
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • KathmKathm Posts: 26
    Thanks @Slow-worm.  Had been wondering if some sort of grass would work.  I do miss the height of the conifers.  Didn’t know about fargesia, but just watched a video on them - think will give this a try:  

    Fargesia angustissima.  

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    edited 6 March
    Is it still wet in the summer? If so, then astilbes, acteas and hostas would be happy there as well as the hydrangeas that @Plantminded mentioned.

    I think a multi purpose compost mulch would help too.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Plant a weeping willow tree.
  • KathmKathm Posts: 26
    Thanks @Busy-Lizzie and @Plantminded.    Yes, it never drys out.  Think my corner acts as a sump for next door.  Useful RHS article.  And now I have cleared the area and got a huge pile of rotted manure to use up - will add and see what happens.  Doesn’t seem to be a negative as they suggest one barrow load of organic matter per square metre is fine.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Well rotted manure is by far the best solution for heavy wet ground.  :)

    As already said though - it also depends on how the soil is in summer, and that always depends on where you are. Your conditions will be like mine, so the soil is unlikely to dry out fully, even in that aspect, and that means plenty of choices. Spireas, Philadelphus and Weigelas for shrubs, and all sorts of perennials, but you may need to experiment a bit. Start with those that are easiest. Astrantias, Hostas -but only if you can manage the relentless slugs, Pulsatillas, Knapweeds, Irises - but avoid bearded ones for now, hardy Geraniums etc. those will all be fine, and there will be plenty of others.
    I grow Acteas and Camassias, as well as various shrubs, primulas, and other plants that enjoy consistent moisture in the north and north west facing, and east to south east facing sites, but the south and south west sites have raised beds as it would have taken a lot longer to get the soil in good shape. That gives me more scope, and allowed me to plant sooner in this site when I moved in ten yeaars ago.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KathmKathm Posts: 26
    Thanks @Fairygirl.   Good to get recommendations for our local conditions - and the hoards of slugs. 
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