• Make a pot of mint tea Mint loves moist soil and is one of the
first herbs to put on new growth, so make fresh mint tea and take a moment
to notice the new foliage on shrubs such as Japanese acers.
• Support border plants Their new top growth will be soft. Wire
supports and pea sticks are easier to push in when the ground is wet. Plants
flopping over paths can be held back by a permanent edging or a row of Link
Stakes.
• Visit gardens At least they won’t be crowded. The National
Trust has rainy days ideas by region at nationaltrust.org.uk, but any
property with a large conservatory, orangery or a tea room is worth a try.
When I visited Nymans, West Sussex, in early spring, there was a heated
potting shed filled with interesting second-hand gardening books. Gardens
that open for charity might do extra days; check ngs.org.uk for updates.
• Be inspired Read Rainy Days in the Lake District by Val
Corbett, a photographer who revels in rain from dripping anoraks, sodden
sheep and, of course, rainbows (Frances Lincoln, £9.99).
Damage limitation
• Protect with cloches Keep rain off seedlings or strawberry
flowers and fruit. The classic Longrow Super Cloche is easily moved from
crop to crop and is sturdy and long-lasting. It is widely available from
mail-order suppliers (£35 from twowests.co.uk).
For protection from late frosts and cold winds, garden fleece is a versatile
cover but needs to be well-secured yet removed on warm days.
• Administer TLC Plugs and young potted plants that would
normally be hardening off in a cold frame or even planted out by now need a
bit of TLC to prevent a check to their growth. If you have room, pot them
on.
• Feed stragglers Plants, such as tomatoes, may look as if they
are running out of nutrients. Others that look pale and lanky are suffering
from low light levels, so rotate them to keep stems straight.
• Re-sow if necessary Outdoor sowings may have rotted due to
cold, wet soils. Re-sow leafy and root crops when it gets a bit warmer. They
will still do their stuff this year, but check seed packets as it is
possibly too late for some crops such as tomatoes and sweetcorn, even if
grown indoors.
• Rescue waterlogged pots Outdoor container plants can die if
the compost becomes saturated. Rescue pots by removing trays from under
them, at least for now. Pot feet, from garden centres, can help with
drainage.
• Turn the compost heap Use a fork to mix the wet and dry layers
and cover open-topped bins. Bring wormeries into the garage or cover them,
as the worms will drown if too wet.
Stay dry
• Wear gloves Keep dry while planting, weeding and pricking out.
Thin Showa 370 gloves are great for dexterous tasks but the nitrile coating
and elasticated wrists keep out cold and dirt; they are washable, too. £8,
widely available.
• Stay indoors Watch BQ’s DIY clips on YouTube. They now
feature garden advice for beginners, so you can be cheered by the
ever-positive Alan Titchmarsh telling you, “When it’s raining, it’s a great
time to feed border plants since the rain will wash fertiliser down to the
roots where it is needed.”
• Get some wet weather kit Walking or sailing jackets and
trousers that are waterproof yet breathable work well – think Lands’ End or
Regatta. A waterproof baseball cap or hat with a rim allows more movement
than a hood. Wellies are fine for most garden activities but for carrying
heavy items or digging, walking boots offer more protection. For quick
dashes out, it’s worth keeping a pair of slip-on plastic clogs by the back
door.
Plan ahead
• Buy mulch material Apply it to the soil surface as soon as the
rain stops. Loose mulch, laid at a depth of 2in, will seal in moisture to
sustain plants through the summer. Bark chips are invaluable for shrub and
mixed borders; well-rotted manure suits the veg and fruit plot; while gravel
sets off herb gardens and rockeries. To save lugging bags around in the
rain, order online and have it delivered: creative gardenideas.co.uk
(which gives free delivery on orders over £30), and
lbsgarden warehouse.co.uk (free delivery on orders over £150), offer a
wide range of mulch and other sundries.
• Blaze a trail Wet soils are muddy underfoot but a layer of
bark chips will give you access to borders. Buy “play grade” bark chips to
go underneath play equipment.
• Plan a path Make this the last year you squelch your way to
the greenhouse or shed by putting in hard landscaped paths or steps, either
stepping stones, a gravel path or something more ambitious. Now is the time
to get in some quotes – most landscapers and designers are not as busy as
usual this year.
• Go undercover If you don’t have a greenhouse, why not? You
could be sowing and potting up in comfort, your plants would be growing in
good light and your indoor windowsills would be clear of seed trays. For
buying tips, see which.co.uk/home-and-garden,
or compare styles and models at one of the big garden shows this year.
• Make a list Which flowers do well after heavy rain? You can
refer back to your list when ordering bulbs and roses in autumn. For
example, tulips vary greatly in their tolerance to rain – some shake it off
while others have flowers that fill with water, flop and their stems break.
• Plan a treat Good starting points for when the weather
improves include the sawdays.co.uk garden-lovers section, which has a list
of more than 170 bbs and small hotels with good gardens. The RHS (rhs.org.uk)
has just teamed up with JustGo! to offer UK garden breaks by coach based
around the RHS shows.
For gardens and nurseries worldwide, gardenvisit.com
is a useful source of ideas.
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