A permanently wet or squelchy area of a garden can often seem like an inhospitable place where little or nothing will grow successfully. However, by selecting moisture-loving plants and combining them with thoughtful, clever landscaping techniques, it is entirely possible to transform these challenging spots into attractive and thriving parts of your garden.
Boggy areas are most commonly caused by a naturally high water table or by poor drainage, which is often the result of heavy clay soil that retains water rather than allowing it to drain away properly.
Our Top Tips for Dealing with a Soggy Garden
Check out your pipework and drains first. It may be that a broken pipe is creating the soggy patch, so contact your water company if necessary.
If your pipework and drains are okay, consider digging out a shallow depression at the lowest point of your garden. This will create a natural soakaway or pond, helping to collect excess water and improve drainage.
Another option is to create swales to channel rainwater through the garden. These swales look like dry stream beds in dry weather, but act as channels to divert water from flower beds in wet weather. They allow rain to soak into the ground slowly and reduce flooding. You can direct swales to empty into a soakaway, bog garden or pond. The soil you dig out for your swales can be used to raise the height of flower beds above the groundwater, and adding raised beds also allows you to widen your planting options.
Try not to pave or deck your whole garden area, as this will divert rain and increase flooding elsewhere. The surface will also very quickly become slimy and slippery. Instead, use gravel or woodchip for paths and patios.
With flower beds, work in lots of organic matter to improve drainage and aerate the soil. Avoid treading on the soil, as this will increase compaction. Choose plants that are happy growing in damp or waterlogged conditions, including bog plants and pond-side plants. Watch out for slugs and snails as they thrive in damp conditions, and can quickly damage leaves, stems and young growth if left unchecked.
Our Top Plants for Moist & Boggy Soils
All the plants listed below are suitable for moist environments.
The letter (B) highlights plants that are also suitable for very wet areas or bog gardens.
Trees for Moist or Boggy Soils
- Acer griseum
- Amelanchier
- Betula nigra
- Betula pendula
- Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
- Liquidamber
- Magnolia (most varieties)
- Mespilus germanica
- Paulownia tomentosa
- Picea abies
- Populus
- Prunus (most varieties)
- Pyrus communis
- Salix
- Sambucus nigra
- Sorbus aucuparia
- Taxodium distichum
- Tilia
Shrubs for Moist & Boggy Soils
- Calycanthus
- Cornus alba
- Cornus sericea
- Enkianthus
- Gaultheria procumbens
- Hydrangea macrophylla
- Hydrangea paniculata
- Kalmia
- Kerria japonica
- Leycesteria formosa
- Physocarpus opulifolius
- Salix
- Sorbaria
- Spirea
- Vaccinium
- Viburnum opulus
- Weigela
Perennials for Moist or Boggy Soils
- Actaea
- Astilbe B
- Astrantia
- Caltha
- Erythronium
- Geranium phaeum
- Hemerocallis
- Hesperantha coccinea
- Hostas B
- Houttuynia B
- Iris ensata B
- Iris pseudacorus B
- Iris sibirica B
- Ligularia B
- Lobelia cardinalis B
- Lysimachia
- Lythrum
- Monarda
- Myosotis scorpioides B
- Persicaria
- Primula denticulata
- Primula japonica
- Rodgersia B
- Sanguisorba
Ferns & Grasses for Moist or Boggy Soils
- Athyrium filix-femina B
- Matteuccia struthiopteris B
- Osmunda regalis B
- Acorus B
- Carex elata ‘Aurea’ B
- Juncus effusus ‘Spiralis’ B
- Phyllostachys
- Typha minima B
Whether you’re planting beside a pond, stream, or bog garden, these shrubs, perennials, ferns and grasses will help you create a beautiful, wildlife-friendly space that thrives in consistently moist conditions.
Continue your Gardening Journey
Need a little extra advice? Visit your local Tates of Sussex Garden Centre today, where our friendly knowledgeable, team will be happy to help you choose the right plants and offer expert guidance.
