PLEASE HELP

tillytup · « **on:** February 15, 2009, 21:22 »

Hi everyone. i got my new allotment plot yesterday

Apart from being covered in weeds( not sure what!) there are two huge puddles of water, one in the middle and one at the end of the plot. The plot is really uneven all over but the boundries are level (if that makes sense?) I have no clue on how to sort out drainage. The man next to me drains the water off at the end of his plot, but there is a row of plots below and his water just flows to the poor plot below him

please help... i read something about brushwood? haven't a clue what this is, how much you'd use? i must sound so daft but i'm really trying not to get overwhelmed by it all

Stripey_cat · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2009, 22:04 »

I'd give it a while before you start digging drains! Round here, the rivers are out of their banks, the water tables are very high from rain and snowmelt, and a lot of low-lying land is flooded that'll be fine in a normal summer and OK most winters. Where are you and what is your soil like (other than muddy and flooded?). You'll risk making matters worse if you get out and dig or walk on wet soil now (think poured concrete if it's clay or silt).

rainbow1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2009, 22:09 »

Hi Tillytup

where abouts in the country are you?

tillytup · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2009, 22:20 »

i'm in birmingham
the rest of the ground is covered in thick low weeds, will it be ok to start digging those up? the ground is just soggy away from the two puddles.
have no idea what the soil is like, haven't lifted the weeds yet .thanks

Yorkie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2009, 22:27 »

If the mud sticks to your boots, keep off the plot - it's still too soggy. Once the soil is dry enough, by all means go for it with the weeding!

Re drainage, there's been a few threads / posts about this recently so it might be worth a search for drainage trenches or similar words on the Chatting on the Plot and Grow Your Own forums

Good luck

richyrich7 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2009, 19:49 »

Can I just echo Yorkie's advice stay off the plot until the mud don't stick you'll do more harm than good.

Those areas that have the puddles, I would first of all double dig them no point putting in drains if all you need to do is double dig save you time and money. Double digging is hardwork but so good for the soil and drainage it's always the 1st option to look at forget the rest till you've done that and see what happens

Paul Plots · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2009, 21:38 »

Years ago huge ponds were made water-tight simply by walking up and down on wet clay. "Puddled clay", as it was called, was used to line quite huge ponds....and canals too I think. :

Walking up and down on wet soil will ruin the structure and could result in a solid water-proof layer that will be hell to break up later when it does dry out.

Let the lot dry and while you're waiting talk to the neighbours to see how they cope in years when it gets that bad.

If not - there's a good market for water-cress grown alot around our way!

PLEASE HELP

tillytup

PLEASE HELP

Stripey_cat

Re: PLEASE HELP

rainbow1

Re: PLEASE HELP

tillytup

Re: PLEASE HELP

Yorkie

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richyrich7

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Paul Plots

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