Plants for Damp Situations

Damp soils are a gardeners' paradise. Many plants with bold, lush, exotic foliage thrive in damp situations. Damp areas can include water features, stepping stones, board walks and other features to create an interesting focal point in the garden.

Planting

Damp soils tend to be in the shade and can be of two types - peat or clay. Peat soils are free draining, easy to work with and are rich in organic material, such as leaf mould. Plants respond well with regular mulching and applications of a complete garden fertiliser. Clay soils retain moisture and are difficult to work with. Applying gypsum helps break down the clay particles and improves soil structure. By adding plenty of compost and organic material to the planting area or raising beds to improve drainage, clay soils become quite workable. Regular mulching helps improve clay soils. Damp soils are a gardeners' paradise. Many plants with bold, lush, exotic foliage thrive in damp situations. Damp areas can include water features, stepping stones, board walks and other features to create an interesting focal point in the garden.

When to plant

Damp soils can be planted at any time of the year. Water plants through dry periods.

How to plant

It is important that plenty of compost, mulch and organic material are dug into the soil before planting. Dig the planting hole twice the width and depth of the root ball. Add Blood & Bone or Butlers Sheep Manure Pellets to the planting hole and mix in well.

Soak the plant in a bucket of water before planting. Remove the plant from its container, run a sharp knife down the root ball in several places to encourage new roots. Place the plant in the hole and firm soil around it. Plant to the depth of the plant's original container. Water well.

Feeding

Use Butlers Sheep Manure Pellets or a complete garden fertiliser at the recommended rate in spring. Water fertiliser in well. Click here to browse the Mitre 10 range of fertilisers.

Mulching

Mulching is very important. Mulch in late winter / early spring and again in mid summer. Mulching keeps weeds down and improves soil structure.

Watering

Regular watering will be required to get plants established. Deep watering once a week is more effective than light watering.

What to Plant

Trees and shrubs for damp situations.
If you have space, there are a few attractive large trees that thrive in a damp situation.

Alnus (Alder), Cordyline (Cabbage Tree), Casuarina (Sheoke), Cythea (Tree Fern), Kahikatea, Phormium (Flax), Pseudopanax (Lancewood), Sophora (Kowhai), Quercus palustris (Pin Oak), Salix (Willow),Taxodium (Swamp Cypress)

Perennials for damp situations Many perennials love a damp situation. Astilbe, Cyperus (Papyrus), Filipendula (Meadowsweet), Gunnera, Hosta, Iris, Lobelia cardinalis, Lysimachia, Mimulus, Primula, Zantedeschia (Arum Lily) This list is by no means comprehensive. Please ask at your local store for more information on plants suited to your conditions.