Here in the UK, its Flood Prevention Week, and just to ram home the message, we've had a pretty wet week. Here are my 5 tips to creating a flood resilient garden which will help our communities too!
The resin patio was really interesting. I’ve battled with a heavy clay allotment on a slope and I ditched around the beds and also a channel on one side of the beds from the top of the slope to the bottom. It has helped a lot. I’ve also considered the plants I grow in the more water attracting beds - these tend to be where I plant the perennials. I also seek out edibles that like a lot of moisture and then the plants that like drier conditions I grow towards the top of the slope. I also practice no dig, although I’m still trying to find my groove with growing potatoes no dig. I am still learning and don’t think the allotment will ever stop teaching me! I planted my fruit trees at the top of the slope but should I have planted them in my more challenging wet beds?
Challenging!! Sounds like you have the perfect rain garden at the bottom. I think I would have planted the fruit trees at the top too - their deep roots will stabilise the top slope, foliage intercept the rain and their roots help to slow the flow down the slope plus their leaves will fall on your beds where they can be of benefit. And most apple rootstocks don't do well in soggy conditions although there are some new ones that are more tolerant of root rot, and the same goes for many of the soft fruits. I've grown chokeberries (Aronia) in water logged sites in the past as they can cope with wet feet for several weeks if the site is sunny. I love the autumn foliage and tart edible berries (if the birds leave them) But I think as well as edible perennials, my go to for waterlogged site is comfrey - it will thrive and give you loads of leaves,
That’s wonderful, thank you. I have a comfrey languishing in my boggiest bed in the centre of the allotment which has a bit of a plateau to it. The horseradish and Jerusalem artichokes are also having a good time in the boggiest bed. In the bottom bed which can be pretty boggy as well I’ve moved autumn raspberries there and they seem happy. I’m thinking of growing more fruiting bushes in that bed so I will investigate the choke berries you’ve suggested.
Really interesting Sally, especially the point about resin! I find everything about aggregates incredibly confusing, this was very helpful x
Thanks Alex - it can be useful to go to some of the landscaping shows to learn more about the latest materials
The resin patio was really interesting. I’ve battled with a heavy clay allotment on a slope and I ditched around the beds and also a channel on one side of the beds from the top of the slope to the bottom. It has helped a lot. I’ve also considered the plants I grow in the more water attracting beds - these tend to be where I plant the perennials. I also seek out edibles that like a lot of moisture and then the plants that like drier conditions I grow towards the top of the slope. I also practice no dig, although I’m still trying to find my groove with growing potatoes no dig. I am still learning and don’t think the allotment will ever stop teaching me! I planted my fruit trees at the top of the slope but should I have planted them in my more challenging wet beds?
Challenging!! Sounds like you have the perfect rain garden at the bottom. I think I would have planted the fruit trees at the top too - their deep roots will stabilise the top slope, foliage intercept the rain and their roots help to slow the flow down the slope plus their leaves will fall on your beds where they can be of benefit. And most apple rootstocks don't do well in soggy conditions although there are some new ones that are more tolerant of root rot, and the same goes for many of the soft fruits. I've grown chokeberries (Aronia) in water logged sites in the past as they can cope with wet feet for several weeks if the site is sunny. I love the autumn foliage and tart edible berries (if the birds leave them) But I think as well as edible perennials, my go to for waterlogged site is comfrey - it will thrive and give you loads of leaves,
That’s wonderful, thank you. I have a comfrey languishing in my boggiest bed in the centre of the allotment which has a bit of a plateau to it. The horseradish and Jerusalem artichokes are also having a good time in the boggiest bed. In the bottom bed which can be pretty boggy as well I’ve moved autumn raspberries there and they seem happy. I’m thinking of growing more fruiting bushes in that bed so I will investigate the choke berries you’ve suggested.
Great post Sally. I agree about the resin. The landscaping is beautiful and useful!
Thank you! It's a shame there is not more information around - resin-bound is tricky to use so tends to be restricted to landscapers
I didn't realise that it was permeable and had discounted it as a material
just need to check its resin bound which is permeable so meets SUDS requirements and resin bonded which is not