Beside the water

Creating a water garden can be hard work initially, but the plants that love such moist conditions always create an enchanting display, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

HAVING water in the garden adds tranquillity, while the plants that enjoy the moist soil alongside it are exciting and colourful. This is known as ‘bog’ or ‘streamside’ planting and encompasses species fond of earth that is consistently damp, even in the height of summer. Also included within the moisture-loving group are the plants that suit ‘retentive’ conditions: borders and beds that conserve water well.

While the latter are relatively easy to create via the addition of organic matter (such as compost), constructing a bog or pondside border can be more laborious and involved. Sometimes conditions are naturally easy, but in most cases the site must be investigated and altered before planting. Once in place, however, you are rewarded with a fabulous display of colourful plants, such as candelabra primulas and astilbes, that will be a joy for years to come.

Beth Chatto

In her book The Damp Garden, the late gardener Beth Chatto wrote, “If damp gardening sounds like hard work I can assure you that, unless nature provides for you, initially it is. Both the careful preparation of the site and the subsequent management of the soil (ideally suited for the germination of weeds) require considerable effort, followed by skilful planting. But when it is successful I think it is possibly one of the most beautiful forms of gardening.”

The water garden (including bog beds) that Beth created at her iconic gardens near Colchester in Essex involved adjusting the soil to resolve waterlogging and compacted layers. Bog plants relish dampness, but insist upon a modicum of drainage.

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