Climate change to increase casualties

For gardeners in particular, so far it has been a warm, wet winter – well maybe not so warm but certainly wet and windy. We can expect to find a few casualties as a result of waterlogged conditions and sadly this may well become a regular pattern as a result of climate change.

Back in 2002 or thereabouts the RHS and the NTS produced a report entitled Gardening in the Global Greenhouse warning of the changes we gardeners would have to face, and high on the list even then was winter waterlogging.

To add to that, they predicted further damage – a coup de gras would be suffered by plants as a result of the spring frosts that are likely to follow. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The combination is deadly so, can we do anything, even now, to guard against further potential damage?

SHORT-TERM REMEDY

Cover smaller early flowering plants with a cloche or fleece when frost is forecast, to protect blossom.

Waterlogged plants in patio pots should be tipped out, removing any parts of the root system that are showing damage then replant into fresh compost. If the plant is alive though the damage is significant – replant into a smaller container and in time it could be moved up to the original pot.

Keep off water logged soil until it is workable to avoid damaging the structure further.

Remove dead or dying shoots from affected plants.

Apply a dressing of balanced fertiliser soon and mulch over the root areas.

Foliar feeds during the growing season may help to encourage root growth and improve leaf colour.

Though it may sound perverse, be prepared to water in dry spells because damaged plants may have lost a significant part of their root system!

Last but not least, after clearing the winter detritus from the lawn, spike all over to help dry the surface before applying a spring feed.

LONG-TERM PREVENTION

In the veg plot, deep digging and working organic matter into beds will help to improve drainage and aeration.

Avoid overwatering container plants and ensure they are well crocked and free draining.

You may well have to review the range of plants you grow if your soil is particularly heavy or prone to waterlogging.

Use a digging fork rather than a spade when planting on heavy soils to avoid smearing the sides of planting holes, which effectively creates a sump.

Seriously flooded areas may need a more basic solution involving a drainage system. Alternatively, grow plants in raised beds and plant trees on a slight mound.

Use a very thick mulch of organic matter around particularly susceptible plants. This creates an aerated area between sky and soil where roots can thrive even in wet conditions.

Few plants will tolerate and survive extended periods of waterlogged or flooded conditions. In a landscaping perspective, if you do have an area prone to temporary flooding perhaps because of a high water table, then you have some research to do looking for plants under the heading ‘marginal plants’, in other words the species you might find on the margins of a lake or large pond.

Under glass things are buzzing at the moment, this is the time of year when space is at a premium but I am sticking to the water theme in relation to the state of bought–in composts. In preparation for sowing and rooting cuttings, I bought a bag labelled ‘seed& cutting’ compost.

Maybe that was accurate when the bag was filled, but it came out looking like and feeling like cold porridge (apart from the colour). Sealed in a plastic bag and squeezed tight to be packed on pallets, this product needed serious treatment. There is no way I could have used it straight out of the bag but maybe some people do, after all they are used to pouring readymix ‘whatever’ out of a bag expecting to use it right away.

I could not have used this compost straight away even leavened with some vermiculite.

Over the years I have made a similar comment about grow bags for those of you who use them. They need to be in the glasshouse, warming up for at least a week before planting, having given them a fluffing up as you would a pillow or a cushion and slitting open to help the process.

That’s you tellt!

A couple of plants that do enjoy wetter conditions: Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ and Astilbe

Propagation under way using that compost mixed with vermiculite. I’ll keep you posted on results

That seed and cutting compost, still wet and cold