[3759allen]

not what most of you are wishing for but everything is starting to get a bit on the dry side already. with no rain forecast for at least a week, making me wonder if we're gonna have a dry summer.

luckily i have a constant supply of mulch so this will hopefully keep the soil moist.

has anyone got any other tips for conserving moisture?

[Totty]

Moving to somerset.

Totty

[rem858]

It's crazy I'm on essex/Suffolk borders and 2 weeks ago you couldn't walk on the plot without getting stuck in the mud now it's the complete opposite and we could do with some of the wet stuff

[Beetroot Queen]

Hello ..........  SOmerset calling....... Can we skip the rain dancing, do what John says and stick your finger in the soil I bet its not dry down there really 

[Yorkie]

It probably is in Essex / Norfolk / Suffolk.  That's the driest part of the UK and is frequently well-drained to boot.

[Beetroot Queen]

It probably is in Essex / Norfolk / Suffolk.  That's the driest part of the UK and is frequently well-drained to boot.

Maybe we could point the dutch pumps towards them. LOL

[3759allen]

i thought that would be the response from a lot of you, especially after seeing some of the pictures of the west of the country.

my soil is pretty sandy and drains well, haven't had any trouble with water logging and got of lightly with the rain over winter. hopefully every year that i work organic material in it should improve things.

[barley]

RAIN  norty norty word - not to be used on here till hose pipe ban please 

[BabbyAnn]

I'm not eager for rain though to be fair it has been a fairly normal wet winter here, but I have noticed a rapidly drying trend in recent weeks - from soggy beds to just right to rock hard clods appearing on the surface (I have clay soil). 

has anyone got any other tips for conserving moisture?

Dig trenches where you intend planting and layer with compost (or kitchen waste such as for beans) and then back fill - it might need watering in but should help to retain some moisture in a sandy soil.  Mulching as you mentioned is a very good idea.

[Hampshire Hog]

Since we still have flooded roads in my village I haven't worried too much so far. But I am pleased that I have full water butts both at home and at the plot. If we are going to have "unusual weather" regularly then I will be tempted to get some more and join them up to create more storage. No use at present but might be prudent for next season.
I wonder when "unusual weather" turns into "usual weather" ?? 
Cheers HH

[Nikkithefoot]

Although I'm on sandy freeish draining soil, my plot is on a slope. I'm lucky in that I'm at the top and my plot is workable, but most others on my site are still far too soggy to work and there are lakes in the fields around me which are slowly shrinking. Still flooding on some roads as well.

We have had over 1m of rain in January and don't wish for any more yet.

I try and mulch all over my plot as things start growing, keeps both the weeds down and moisture in (but only if the soil is damp to start with)

[Springlands]

No more rain for a while please - my patches are just beginning to dry enough for me to start some digging. 

[Ashurstman]

No more rain for a while please - my patches are just beginning to dry enough for me to start some digging. 

Seconded!

[rowan57]

I wouldn't mind a splash to soak the onion sets I put in today. Our soil drains like desert sand even though its silt based, and its getting dry already!

[mumofstig]

I bet it's only dry at the top, though - after all that rain