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Gardening in the rain

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by Pippa Greenwood

It's my garden and I'll whinge if I want to, whinge if I want to...

Rain on umbrellaIf screaming would do the trick, believe me you'd hear my dulcet tones on the other side of the Earth! However, I don't suppose my lungs can alter the weather forecast at all.

What I need is a massive sponge to suck up at least some of the unbelievable quantities of rain that are making it impossible to garden, and in some instances positively treacherous to even walk.

I skidded for over a metre across some wet grass the other week. My neck still clunks every time I turn my head, as if I had whiplash.

Meanwhile, provided I wear my walking books I can just about stay upright, but with little, if any chance of actually doing anything useful. I even cleaned the inside of the greenhouse the other day (which, for me is rather like ironing, not exactly a job I lust after!)

I am starting to think there could be a market for entire garden shelters which allow natural light through, permit adequate air circulation and wind movement, access to birds and other wildlife... but keep out the rain. If any one knows any anti-rain dances, please get dancing.

'It's my garden and I'll whinge if I want to, whinge if I want to' springs to mind, sung of course to the tune of 'It's my party and I'll cry if I want to'!

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Gardeners' World Web User 01/01/2007 at 00:00

Don't let it get you all down so much! Plan your gardens for the spring and summer. Get the seed catalogues out and save yourself some money buy growing your own plants. Work out your colours for pots and hanging baskets rather than going in 'blind' to the GC in May/June. Weed your borders, its easier to do in the wet. Look through the previous years gardening magazines, you may have not read them properly when there was so much gardening to do, cut out and file the articles you want to keep. Plant trees. Plant roses. Make sure you plant winter flowering plants to entice you outside. There is gardening to be done, you may have to do it with more layers of clothing on but you will so pleased you made the effort.

Gardeners' World Web User 18/01/2008 at 09:28

Hi Pippa, I look on the positive side... on the odd occasion its dry enough to actually go out in the garden it is much easier to pull the wretched creeping buttercup out of my border!

Gardeners' World Web User 21/01/2008 at 00:42

Is there anything we can dig into the soil before winter starts to prevent the water ruining the established plants. I had my wellingtons on and my feet sank into the wet border when I was tying my newly planted in November Holly tree up.

Gardeners' World Web User 21/01/2008 at 15:06

Pippa I'm in Upper Lincolnshire and I'm so very depressed. The continuing wet weather means I get next to no exersize and the lack of sun means our lights at home are on all day. What happened to bright frosty winter days when the sun shone and we heard the birds singing? We were able to tidy the garden and chop wood in between warming mugs of soup bought out to the hard working gardener. It's all gone,gone,gone away.

Gardeners' World Web User 21/01/2008 at 18:44

An I the only person who enjoys the rest my garden and I am entitled to. It is winter after all and I prefer to spend this time tucked up in the house with a hot drink and seed catalogues. Our weather is why we have a green and pleasant land

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